Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on June 4, 2024, Margaret Whalen, 60, of Lacey Township, was charged with Maintaining or Operating a Controlled Dangerous Substance Facility, Manufacturing Psilocybin Mushrooms, Possession of Psilocybin Mushrooms with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Psilocybin Mushrooms, Employing a Juvenile in a Drug Distribution Scheme, and two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
In March 2024, Officers from the Lacey Township Police Department were alerted by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency that they had received information that Whalen was utilizing her residence on Elwood Street to manufacture and distribute psilocybin mushrooms. On March 13, 2024, Detectives from the Lacey Township Police Department and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit executed a court-authorized search warrant on the subject residence. As a result, Detectives seized several jars containing suspect psilocybin mushrooms. The seized samples were forwarded to the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation laboratory for testing. On May 23, 2024, Detectives received the laboratory results indicating that the samples seized during the court-authorized search tested positive as psilocybin mushrooms.
An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and Lacey Township Police Department revealed that Whalen manufactured and distributed psilocybin mushrooms from her residence during the time she was the legal guardian of three minor children who resided at the residence with her. Further investigation revealed that Whalen employed one of the minors in her scheme to manufacture and distribute the narcotics.
On June 4, 2024, Whalen was charged with the aforementioned charges; she was taken into custody on June 5, 2024 by Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and Lacey Township Police Department. Whalen was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where she is presently lodged pending a detention hearing.
Prosecutor Billhimer commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victim’s Unit, Lacey Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Lacey Township Police Department, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, and Division of Child Protection and Permanency, for their combined and collaborative efforts 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).