Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on June 13, 2025, Ralph Durand, 58, of Long Branch, was sentenced by the Honorable Dina M. Vicari, J.S.C., to ten years New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) relative to his previously entered guilty plea to Possession of More than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute in connection with an investigation that took place between December 2022 and May 2023. Durand pled guilty to the charge before Judge Vicari on February 20, 2025.
Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force collaborated with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Asset Forfeiture Unit, United States Drug Enforcement Administration–High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Group 5, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Lakewood Township Police Department, Lakewood Township Police Department Street Crimes Unit, Lakewood Township Police Department K-9 Unit, South Toms River Police Department, South Toms River Police Department K-9 Unit, Brick Township Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit, Eatontown Borough Police Department, Howell Township Police Department K-9 Unit, City of Long Branch Police Department Street Crimes Unit, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, to conduct an investigation into the distribution of cocaine in the Ocean and Monmouth County areas. This cooperative, multi-agency investigation identified residences in South Toms River and Brick Township as being utilized by Octavaeous Jenkins, 50, of Toms River, to store and distribute cocaine. Additionally, the investigation identified a residence in Long Branch as being utilized by Durand to store and distribute cocaine.
Detectives from the aforementioned law enforcement agencies initiated surveillance on the subject residences in South Toms River, Brick Township, and Long Branch in May 2023. On May 9, 2023, Detectives observed Jenkins meeting with Durand in Eatontown. Jenkins and Durand were subsequently detained and found to be in possession of approximately one kilogram of cocaine. Jenkins and Durand were thereafter placed under arrest without incident.
Multiple court-authorized search warrants were then executed on all of the subject residences. As a result, law enforcement seized – in combination from all three residences – approximately 1.25 kilograms of cocaine, $55,000 in United States currency, 20 grams of crack cocaine, and 50 dosage units of heroin. Additionally, Detectives seized approximately $488,500 in personal banking accounts belonging to Durand, believed to be related to the narcotics distribution network.
Jenkins and Durand were both charged with numerous narcotics-related offenses on May 9, 2023. Both defendants were transported to the Ocean County Jail, and subsequently released as a consequence of bail reform.
On February 20, 2025, Jenkins pled guilty to Distribution of More than Five Ounces of Cocaine and Possession of More than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute before Judge Vicari. On April 4, 2025, Judge Vicari sentenced Jenkins to 11 years NJSP relative to his previously entered guilty plea to Distribution of More than Five Ounces of Cocaine and 11 years NJSP relative to his guilty plea to Possession of More than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute. The sentences will run concurrently.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Senior Assistant Prosecutor Timothy Kelly and Assistant Prosecutor Alec DeBari who handled the case on behalf of the State, and commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Asset Forfeiture Unit, United States Drug Enforcement Administration-High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Group 5, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Lakewood Township Police Department, Lakewood Township Police Department Street Crimes Unit, Lakewood Township Police Department K-9 Unit, South Toms River Police Department, South Toms River Police Department K-9 Unit, Brick Township Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit, Eatontown Borough Police Department, Howell Township Police Department K-9 Unit, City of Long Branch Police Department Street Crimes Unit, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, for their combined and collective efforts in connection with this investigation leading to Durand’s guilty plea – and now his state prison sentence.