Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force collaborated with the Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department, Barnegat Township Police Department, Borough of Tuckerton Police Department, Lakewood Township Police Department, and Stafford Township Police Department K-9 Unit, to conduct a month-long investigation into the distribution of illegal narcotics in the Ocean County area. This cooperative, multi-agency investigation identified a residence on Bear Hollow Court in Little Egg Harbor Township as being utilized by John Pecoreno, 40, and Elysia Sullins, 23, both of Little Egg Harbor Township, to store and distribute Cocaine, Methamphetamine, and Heroin.
On September 6, 2024, Detectives from the aforementioned agencies established stationary and mobile surveillance on the subject residence. Detectives observed Pecoreno and Sullins exit the residence, enter a vehicle and leave the area. Surveillance was maintained throughout multiple towns in Ocean County, with Pecoreno and Sullins finally returning to the residence. The Ocean County Regional SWAT Team thereafter executed a court-authorized search warrant on the residence. As a result, Detectives seized approximately 1,050 wax folds of Heroin, 10 grams of Cocaine, 36 grams of Methamphetamine, 10 grams of suspected “crack” cocaine, and drug paraphernalia indicative of narcotics distribution.
John Pecoreno was taken into custody without incident at the subject residence and charged with Distribution of Less than One Half Ounce of Cocaine, Distribution of Less than One Half Ounce of Heroin, Possession of More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Heroin with Intent to Distribute, Possession of More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, Conspiracy to Possess More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Heroin with Intent to Distribute, Conspiracy to Possess More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Conspiracy to Possess More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, two counts of Possession of Cocaine, two counts of Possession of Heroin, Possession of Methamphetamine, Wandering to Obtain or Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he will remain pending trial.
Elysia Sullins was likewise taken into custody at the subject residence and charged with Possession of More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Heroin with Intent to Distribute, Possession of More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, Conspiracy to Possess More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Conspiracy to Possess More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Heroin with Intent to Distribute, Conspiracy to Possess More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Heroin, Possession of Methamphetamine, Wandering to Obtain or Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. She was transported to the Ocean County Jail, and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
At the time of the execution of the search warrant, John Pecoreno’s father, Vincent Pecoreno, 61, also of Little Egg Harbor, and Erron Gransden, 38, of West Creek, were both present at the subject residence – in close proximity to the illegal narcotics seized by law enforcement. As such, Vincent Pecoreno was taken into custody and charged with Possession of More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Heroin with Intent to Distribute, Possession of More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Heroin, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Vincent Pecoreno was transported to Little Egg Harbor Township Police Headquarters, where he was processed and served with the charges via summons pending an upcoming first appearance in Ocean County Superior Court. Gransden was also taken into custody and charged with Conspiracy to Possess More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute and Possession of Cocaine. He was transported to the Ocean County Jail, and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
In furtherance of the investigation, Keyon Randolph, 25, of Lakewood Township, was observed by Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force to have engaged in a narcotics related transaction with John Pecoreno at a residence in Lakewood on September 6, 2024. As such, Randolph was taken into custody at the scene without incident and charged with Distribution of More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Heroin, Distribution of More than One Half Ounce of but Less than Five Ounces of Methamphetamine, Possession of More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Heroin with Intent to Distribute, two counts of Possession of More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, Conspiracy to Possess More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Heroin with Intent to Distribute, Conspiracy to Possess More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Conspiracy to Possess More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Heroin, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Wandering to Obtain or Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance. He was transported to the Ocean County Jail, and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
Prosecutor Billhimer commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Asset Forfeiture Unit, Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department, Barnegat Township Police Department, Borough of Tuckerton Police Department, Lakewood Township Police Department, Stafford Township Police Department K-9 Unit, Ocean County Regional SWAT Team, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office-Warrant Division, for their combined and collective assistance in connection with this investigation.
The charges referenced above are merely accusations and the press and public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
R.P.C. 3.6(b)(6).