Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on September 13, 2024, Quaison Ellis, 25, of Barnegat Township, was sentenced by the Honorable Kenneth T. Palmer, J.S.C., to ten years New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) relative to his previously entered guilty plea to Possession of More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Heroin with Intent to Distribute in connection with an incident that occurred in Barnegat on September 10, 2021. Additionally, Judge Palmer sentenced Ellis to ten years NJSP relative to his previously entered guilty plea to Possession of More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, five years NJSP – with a five year period of parole ineligibility- relative to his previously entered guilty plea to being a Certain Person Not to Possess a Firearm, and three years NJSP relative to his previously entered guilty plea to Burglary, all in connection with an incident that also occurred in Barnegat on December 9, 2022. The sentences will run concurrently. Ellis pled guilty to all charges before Judge Palmer on July 15, 2024.
On September 10, 2021, in furtherance of a narcotics investigation, Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Barnegat Township Police Department Crime Reduction Unit, and Stafford Township Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit, established stationary and mobile surveillance on a residence on Hawthorne Lane in Barnegat. Detectives observed Ellis leave the residence and enter the front passenger seat of a motor vehicle. Detectives followed the vehicle to a residence in Paterson, New Jersey, where Ellis was observed meeting with a male. After a few minutes, Ellis returned to the vehicle and placed a bag in the trunk. The vehicle then returned to Barnegat. Officers from the Barnegat Township Police Department then effectuated a motor vehicle stop on the vehicle, and the driver of the vehicle consented to its search. As a result, Detectives seized approximately 1,550 wax folds of heroin. Ellis was transported to the Ocean County Jail, and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
On December 9, 2022, also in furtherance of an ongoing narcotics investigation, Officers from the Barnegat Township Police Department and Ocean County Regional SWAT Team executed a court-authorized search warrant on the same residence on Hawthorne Lane. As a result, Detectives seized quantities of cocaine and heroin, as well as a Keltec .32 caliber firearm. Further investigation revealed that the subject firearm was stolen from a vehicle in Stafford Township on September 29, 2022, resulting in an additional charge of burglary. Ellis was taken into custody and transported to the Ocean County Jail, and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Meghan O’Neill and Assistant Prosecutor Taylor Toscano who handled the case on behalf of the State, and commends the Barnegat Township Police Department, Barnegat Township Police Department Crime Reduction Unit, Barnegat Township Police Department K-9 Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Stafford Township Police Department, Stafford Township Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit, and Ocean County Regional SWAT Team, for their collective and cooperative assistance in connection with these investigations resulting in Ellis’ guilty pleas, and now his state prison sentence.