TOMS RIVER – A multi-agency investigation has led to three Ocean County residents to be arrested and charged for selling drugs, authorities said.
Three homes, two in Lakewood and one in Toms River, were being used by 41-year-old Ivan Contreras-Cruz of Toms River, 27-year-old Alberto Vasquez-Ventura of Lakewood, and 49-year-old Natalia Mihok of Toms River, to store and distribute illegal narcotics, police said.
On September 22, detectives performed surveillance on all three homes and as the three suspects left in separate cars, police pulled them over and placed them under arrest.
After searching the home, detectives seized about 100 grams of cocaine and nearly $18,000. Mihok was taken into custody at the Toms River residence.
Contreras-Cruz was charged with Distribution of more than One-Half Ounce but less than Five Ounces of Cocaine, Possession of more than One-Half Ounce but less than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Conspiracy to Distribute more than One-Half Ounce but less than Five Ounces of Cocaine, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity. Contreras-Cruz was brought to the Ocean County Jail and later released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
Vasquez-Ventura was charged with two counts of Conspiracy to Distribute more than One-Half Ounce but less than Five Ounces of Cocaine, two counts of Distribution of less than One-Half Ounce of Cocaine, two counts of Possession of less than One-Half Ounce of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Cocaine and Conspiracy to Commit Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity. Vasquez-Ventura is being detained in the Ocean County Jail pending trial.
Mihok was charged with Possession of more than One-Half Ounce but less than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Conspiracy to Distribute more than One-Half Ounce but less than Five Ounces of Cocaine, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity. Mihok was transported to the Ocean County Jail and later released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer commended the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Asset Forfeiture Unit, United States Drug Enforcement Administration – HIDTA/MOPOD Group 5, Lakewood Township Police Department, Lakewood Township Police Department Street Crimes Unit, Lakewood Township Police Department Special Response Unit, Lakewood Township Police Department K-9 Unit, Toms River Township Police Department, Toms River Township Police Department Special Enforcement Unit, Toms River Township Police Department Emergency Services Unit, Toms River Township Police Department K-9 Unit, Jackson Township Police Department Detective Bureau, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, for their combined and collective efforts in connection with this investigation.
The charges referenced are merely accusations and the public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
