El fiscal del condado de Ocean, Bradley D.. Billhimer anunció que en abril 12, 2024, Laura Maxson, 54, de Barnegat, fue sentenciado por la Honorable Kimarie Rahill, J.S.C., to three years New Jersey State Prison as a result of her previously entered guilty plea to Conspiracy to Distribute More than Five Ounces of Methamphetamine. Maxson pled guilty to the charge before Judge Rahill on January 29, 2024.
En julio 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, Unidad de Confiscación de Activos de la Oficina del Fiscal del Condado de Ocean, Unidad de Delitos de Alta Tecnología de la Oficina del Fiscal del Condado de Ocean, 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, y la Unidad K-9 de la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Ocean, 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.
En julio 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; como resultado, aproximadamente 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; como tal, the charges against Jason Maxson were dismissed by Judge Rahill at the time of Laurie Maxson’s sentencing.
Prosecutor Billhimer commends the diligent efforts of Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Burke who handled the case on behalf of the State, and acknowledges the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Administración de Control de Drogas de los Estados Unidos, Servicio de Inspección Postal de Estados Unidos, Unidad de Confiscación de Activos de la Oficina del Fiscal del Condado de Ocean, Unidad de Delitos de Alta Tecnología de la Oficina del Fiscal del Condado de Ocean, 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, y la Unidad K-9 de la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Ocean, for their combined and collaborative assistance in connection with this investigation leading to Maxson’s guilty plea, y ahora su sentencia de prisión estatal.