Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force collaborated with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Asset Forfeiture Unit, United States Drug Enforcement Administration – High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Group 5, New Jersey State Police-Trafficking Central Unit, Manchester Township Police Department Narcotics Enforcement Team, Berkeley Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Toms River Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Toms River Township Police Department Emergency Services Unit, Toms River Township Police Department Patrol Division, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, to conduct an investigation into the distribution of cocaine in Ocean County. This cooperative, multi-agency investigation identified four residences in Toms River as being utilized by Christian Bultron-Rios, 37, Christian Bultron-Carmona, 18, and Anfernee Guzman-Romero, 26, all of Toms River, to store and distribute cocaine. The investigation determined that this organization was importing large quatities of cocaine into the Ocean County area, concealed in children’s toy boxes. Over the course of the six month-long investigation, all three defendants were observed distributing large amounts of cocaine throughout Ocean County.
Detectives from the aforementioned law enforcement agencies initiated surveillance on the subject residences in Toms River. On March 8, 2023, Detectives observed Bultron-Rios exit one of the residences carrying two children’s toy boxes. Bultron-Rios was subsequently detained and found to be in possession of approximately one pound of cocaine in each toy box. Bultron-Rios was thereafter placed under arrest.
Multiple court-authorized search warrants were then executed on all of the subject residences. As a result, law enforcement seized – in combination from all four residences – additional quantities of cocaine and suboxone, a polymer assault rifle with high capacity magazine, a semi-automatic handgun, hollow point ammunition, and drug paraphernalia indicative of narcotics manufacturing and distribution. Guzman-Romero and Bultron-Carmona were subsequently placed under arrest at one of the subject residences.
Christian Bultron-Rios was charged with Possession of More than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Conspiracy to Possess More than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Suboxone, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Bultron-Rios was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he is currently lodged pending a detention hearing.
Anfernee Guzman-Romero was charged with Conspiracy to Possess More than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Controlled Dangerous Substance Offense, Possession of an Assault Weapon, Possession of a High Capacity Magazine, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Guzman-Romero was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he is currently lodged pending a detention hearing.
Christian Bultron-Carmona was charged with Conspiracy to Possess More than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute. Bultron-Carmona was served with the charge via summons pending an upcoming first appearance in Ocean County Superior Court.
Prosecutor Billhimer commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Asset Forfeiture Unit, United States Drug Enforcement Administration-High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Group 5, United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations, United States Postal Service Inspectors, New Jersey State Police-Trafficking Central Unit, Toms River Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Toms River Township Police Department Emergency Services Unit, Toms River Township Police Department Patrol Division, Lakewood Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Lakewood Township Police Department Street Crimes Unit, Lakewood Township Police Department Special Response Team, Lakewood Township Police Department Patrol Division, Manchester Township Police Department Narcotics Enforcement Team, Berkeley Township Police Department Detective Bureau, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, for their combined and collective 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).