Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on January 29, 2024, Laurie Maxson, 54, of Barnegat, pled guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute More than Five Ounces of Methamphetamine before the Honorable Kimarie Rahill, J.S.C. At the time of her sentencing on April 12, 2024, the State will be seeking a term of five years New Jersey State Prison.
On July 15, 2021, acting on a tip from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force collaborated with the DEA, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Asset Forfeiture Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Barnegat Township Police Department Crime Reduction Unit and Patrol Division, Stafford Township Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit and K-9 Unit, Ocean Township Police Department Detective Bureau, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, to conduct an investigation into the distribution of narcotics in the Ocean County area. The investigation identified a residence in Barnegat as being utilized by Laurie Maxson to illegally store and distribute pain medication throughout New Jersey.
On July 20, 2021, Detectives from the aforementioned law enforcement agencies established surveillance on the subject residence in Barnegat. Detectives maintained surveillance on both Laurie Maxson and her husband, Jason Maxson, as they left the residence and entered a 2021 Honda Accord. Officers from the Barnegat Township Police Department conducted a motor vehicle stop on the vehicle, and the Maxsons were arrested without incident. Law enforcement subsequently executed a court-authorized search warrant on the Barnegat residence; as a result, approximately 37,000 Tramadol pills – along with 3,400 pills originally believed to be Hydrocodone – were seized. Jason Maxson and Laurie Maxson were both transported to Barnegat Township Police Headquarters where they were formally charged and released on a summons pending future court appearances. Laboratory testing later revealed that the pills originally thought to be Hydrocodone were in actuality Methamphetamine.
Laurie Maxson exonerated Jason Maxson at the time of her plea agreement on January 29th; as such, the charges against Jason Maxson will be dismissed at the time of Laurie Maxson’s sentencing.
Prosecutor Billhimer commends the diligent efforts of Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Burke who is handling the case on behalf of the State, and acknowledges the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, United States Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Postal Inspection Service, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Asset Forfeiture Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Barnegat Township Police Department Crime Reduction Unit and Patrol Division, Stafford Township Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit and K-9 Unit, Ocean Township Police Department Detective Bureau, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, for their combined and collaborative assistance in connection with this investigation leading to Maxson’s guilty plea, and soon her state prison sentence.