El fiscal del condado de Ocean, Bradley D.. Billhimer anunció que en enero 5, 2024, Daniel Kessel, 37, del río Toms, fue sentenciado por la Honorable Kimarie Rahill, J.S.C., a cinco años en la prisión estatal de Nueva Jersey (NJSP) as a result of his previously entered guilty plea to Conspiracy to Maintain a Controlled Dangerous Substance Production Facility, in connection with events that occurred in the Holiday City section of Berkeley Township between August 16, 2020 and August 25, 2020. Además, Judge Rahill sentenced Kessel to five years NJSP as a result of his previously entered guilty plea to Conspiracy to Commit Financial Facilitation and Failure to Pay Income Tax – relative to events that occurred in the Holiday City section of Berkeley Township and the Gilford Park section of Toms River between September 13, 2021 y octubre 20, 2021. Finalmente, Judge Rahill sentenced Kessel to five years NJSP in connection with a previously entered guilty plea to Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana in a Quantity of More than Five Pounds but Less than Twenty-Five Pounds, in connection with events that occurred in Toms River between January 31, 2023 and February 21, 2023. These charges are all in connection with Kessel’s operation of “BudHub,” which was found to be illegally distributing marijuana in Ocean County. Las oraciones se ejecutarán simultáneamente.. Kessel pled guilty to all charges before Judge Rahill on August 14, 2023.
An investigation by the Berkeley Township Police Department Detective Bureau determined that Kessel was utilizing a residence in the Holiday City section of Berkeley Township for narcotics distribution purposes. En Agosto 16, 2020, Detectives from the Berkeley Township Police Department initiated surveillance on the subject residence. En Agosto 25, 2020, Berkeley Township Detectives executed a court-authorized search warrant on Kessel’s residence. Como resultado, Detectives seized approximately seven pounds of Hashish, two pounds of THC, parafernalia de drogas, equipment and supplies indicative of manufacturing and distributing narcotics, y aproximadamente $18,000 en moneda de estados unidos. Detectives also learned of a safe deposit box maintained by Kessel at a Bank of America branch in Toms River; en Agosto 26, 2020, Detectives executed a court-authorized search warrant on the safe deposit box, and seized an additional $61,000 en moneda de estados unidos. Kessel was taken into custody and transported to the Ocean County Jail, y luego liberado como consecuencia de la reforma de la fianza de Nueva Jersey.
A subsequent investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force and Berkeley Township Police Department Detective Bureau determined that Kessel was utilizing a residence in the Holiday City section of Berkeley Township and a camper and trailer located at a residence in Toms River for narcotics distribution purposes. En septiembre 13, 2021, Detectives de la Fuerza de Ataque de Narcóticos de la Oficina del Fiscal del Condado de Ocean, Departamento de policía del municipio de Berkeley, Departamento de policía del municipio de Lacey, Ocean Gate Police Department, and Toms River Township Police Department initiated surveillance on the subject locations. En octubre 20, 2021, Detectives from the aforementioned agencies executed court-authorized search warrants on the subject residence, camper and trailer. Como resultado, Los detectives incautaron aproximadamente $457,000 in United States currency from those locations. Detectives also located and froze a Venmo account containing $49,000, as well as a CashApp account containing an additional $45,000. Kessel was taken into custody and transported to the Ocean County Jail, and again released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
A third investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force determined that Kessel was utilizing a residence in Toms River for narcotics distribution. En enero 31, 2023, Detectives initiated surveillance on the subject residence. En febrero 21, 2023, the Toms River Township Police Department Emergency Services Unit executed a court-authorized search warrant on the subject residence; como resultado, Detectives seized several ounces of Marijuana and THC products. Kessel was taken into custody and transported to the Ocean County Jail; he was initially detained, but later released in August 2023 following the entry of his plea agreement for which he was just sentenced on January 5th.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Burke who handled the matters on behalf of the State, y elogia a la Fuerza de Ataque de Narcóticos de la Oficina del Fiscal del Condado de Ocean, 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, United States Drug Enforcement Administration-High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (LAVADO) Grupo 5, Oficina de detectives del Departamento de Policía del municipio de Berkeley, Oficina de detectives del Departamento de Policía de Lacey Township, Departamento de policía del sur de Toms River, Ocean Gate Police Department, Equipo de Control de Narcóticos del Departamento de Policía del Municipio de Manchester, Departamento de policía del municipio de Toms River, Unidad de Servicios de Emergencia del Departamento de Policía del Municipio de Toms River, Ocean County Regional SWAT Team and New Jersey Department of the Treasury-Office of Criminal Investigation, for their collaborative efforts in connection with these investigations leading to Kessel’s guilty pleas, y ahora su sentencia de prisión estatal.