Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on January 5, 2024, Daniel Kessel, 37, of Toms River, was sentenced by the Honorable Kimarie Rahill, J.S.C., to five years New Jersey State Prison (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. Additionally, 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 and October 20, 2021. Finally, 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. The sentences will run concurrently. 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. On August 16, 2020, Detectives from the Berkeley Township Police Department initiated surveillance on the subject residence. On August 25, 2020, Berkeley Township Detectives executed a court-authorized search warrant on Kessel’s residence. As a result, Detectives seized approximately seven pounds of Hashish, two pounds of THC, drug paraphernalia, equipment and supplies indicative of manufacturing and distributing narcotics, and approximately $18,000 in United States currency. Detectives also learned of a safe deposit box maintained by Kessel at a Bank of America branch in Toms River; on August 26, 2020, Detectives executed a court-authorized search warrant on the safe deposit box, and seized an additional $61,000 in United States currency. Kessel was taken into custody and transported to the Ocean County Jail, and later released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
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. On September 13, 2021, Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Berkeley Township Police Department, Lacey Township Police Department, Ocean Gate Police Department, and Toms River Township Police Department initiated surveillance on the subject locations. On October 20, 2021, Detectives from the aforementioned agencies executed court-authorized search warrants on the subject residence, camper and trailer. As a result, Detectives seized approximately $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. On January 31, 2023, Detectives initiated surveillance on the subject residence. On February 21, 2023, the Toms River Township Police Department Emergency Services Unit executed a court-authorized search warrant on the subject residence; as a result, 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, and commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Asset Forfeiture Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, United States Drug Enforcement Administration-High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Group 5, Berkeley Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Lacey Township Police Department Detective Bureau, South Toms River Police Department, Ocean Gate Police Department, Manchester Township Police Department Narcotics Enforcement Team, Toms River Township Police Department, Toms River Township Police Department Emergency Services Unit, 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, and now his state prison sentence.