Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force collaborated with the Pine Beach Police Department, Barnegat Township Police Department Crime Reduction Unit and Patrol Division, Toms River Township Police Department Special Enforcement Unit and Patrol Division, Lakewood Township Police Department Street Crimes Unit, Lakewood Township Police Department Special Response Team, Lakewood Township Police Department K-9 Unit, Lakewood Police Department Patrol Division, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, Seaside Heights Police Department Detective Bureau, and Lacey Township Police Department, to conduct an investigation into the distribution of narcotics in the Ocean County area. The investigation identified a residence in Pine Beach being utilized by Kevin Collins, 37, and Daysha Kelly, 35, as well as a residence in Lakewood being utilized by Elex Hyman, 49, and Jamie Steen, 38, for purposes of storing and distributing Heroin, Fentanyl, and Cocaine in Ocean County. The investigation revealed that all four defendants were acting together and in support of one another in carrying out their distribution scheme.
On August 10, 2021, Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Narcotics Strike Force, along with Officers from the Pine Beach Police Department, Barnegat Township Police Department Crime Reduction Unit, and Toms River Township Police Department Special Enforcement Unit, established surveillance on the subject residence in Pine Beach. Detectives observed Collins and Kelly leave the residence and travel by way of public transportation to the Ocean County Mall. As Detectives maintained surveillance on Collins and Kelly, the Ocean County Regional SWAT Team executed a court-authorized search warrant on the Pine Beach residence. Detectives then approached Collins and Kelly and arrested them without incident. Collins and Kelly were found to be in possession of approximately 100 wax folds of Heroin, 22 grams of Crack Cocaine, and $1,230 in United States Currency. In addition, as a result of the execution of the search warrant on the Pine Beach residence, Detectives seized approximately 1300 wax folds of Heroin, 134 Ecstasy Pills, two semi-automatic 9mm handguns, and $9740 in United States currency.
On August 11, 2021, Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Narcotics Strike Force, along with Officers from the Lakewood Township Police Department Street Crimes Unit, Lakewood Township Police Department Special Response Team, Lakewood Township Police Department K-9 Unit, and Lakewood Township Police Department Patrol Division, executed a court-authorized search warrant on the residence in Lakewood. Though nothing of evidentiary value was located at the residence, Lacey Township Police Officers performed a motor vehicle stop on a vehicle being operated by Hyman – with Steen as a passenger – in Lacey Township. As a result of the stop, Hyman and Steen were arrested and approximately $5780 in United States Currency was seized.
Kevin Collins, of Pine Beach, was charged with Possession of More than One-Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Heroin With Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(2); Possession of More than One-Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Cocaine With Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(2); Possession of More than One-Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Ecstasy Pills With Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(2); Possession of Heroin in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1); Possession of Cocaine in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1); Possession of Ecstasy Pills in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1); Possession of Drug Paraphernalia in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:36-2a; Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Controlled Dangerous Substance Offense in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4.1a; and Being a Certain Person Prohibited from Possessing a Weapon in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-7a. Collins was transported to the Ocean County Jail where he is currently lodged pending a detention hearing.
Daysha Kelly, of Pine Beach, was charged with Possession of More than One-Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Heroin With Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(2); Possession of More than One-Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Cocaine With Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(2); Possession of More than One-Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Ecstasy Pills With Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(2); Possession of Heroin in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1); Possession of Cocaine in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1); Possession of Ecstasy Pills in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1); Possession of Drug Paraphernalia in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:36-2a; and two counts of Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Controlled Dangerous Substance Offense in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4.1a. Kelly was transported to the Ocean County Jail where she is currently lodged pending a detention hearing.
Elex Hyman, of Barnegat, was charged with Conspiracy to Possess More than One-Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Heroin With Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(2); Conspiracy to Possess More than One-Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Cocaine With Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(2); and Conspiracy to Possess More than One-Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Ecstasy Pills With Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(2). Hyman was transported to the Ocean County Jail where he is currently lodged pending a detention hearing.
Jamie Steen, of Barnegat, was charged with Conspiracy to Possess More than One-Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Heroin With Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(2); Conspiracy to Possess More than One-Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Cocaine With Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(2); and Conspiracy to Possess More than One-Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Ecstasy Pills With Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(2). Steen was transported to the Ocean County Jail where she is currently lodged pending a detention hearing.
Prosecutor Billhimer commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Asset Forfeiture Unit, Ocean County Regional SWAT Team, Pine Beach Police Department, Barnegat Township Police Department Crime Reduction Unit and Patrol Division, Toms River Township Police Department Special Enforcement Unit and Patrol Division, Lakewood Township Police Department Street Crimes Unit, Lakewood Township Police Department Special Response Team, Lakewood Township Police Department K-9 Unit, Lakewood Township Police Department Patrol Division, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, Lacey Township Police Department, and Seaside Heights Police Department Detective Bureau, 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).