Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on May 14, 2024, the Honorable Kimarie Rahill, J.S.C., sentenced Ryan Thompson, 35, of Trenton, to seven years New Jersey State Prison as a result of his previously entered guilty plea to Manslaughter in connection with the death of a 55 year-old male in Berkeley Township on September 29, 2023. This sentence will be subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act, meaning that Thompson will be required to serve at least 85 percent of his prison sentence before he may be considered for parole eligibility. Thompson pled guilty to the charge before Judge Rahill on March 4, 2024.
On September 29, 2023, Officers from the Berkeley Township Police Department responded to a residence on Torrey Pines Drive for a report of an unresponsive male. Upon arrival, Officers discovered the body of the victim – already deceased from an apparent drug overdose.
A continuing investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, and Berkeley Township Police Department Detective Bureau, revealed that Thompson and his co-defendants, Michael Wormann, 38, of Toms River, and Tina Martinez, 61, of Trenton, were involved in the distribution of fentanyl to the victim on September 28, 2023.
On September 30, 2023, Wormann was charged with Distribution of Fentanyl, Possession of Less than One-Half Ounce of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute, and Possession of Fentanyl. He was taken into custody without incident at his residence by Berkeley Township Police Officers, and released on a summons pending a future appearance in Ocean County Superior Court.
On October 17, 2023, Martinez was charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl. She was taken into custody without incident at her residence in Trenton, transported to New Jersey State Police Headquarters in Trenton, and released on a summons pending a future appearance in Ocean County Superior Court.
On October 20, 2023, Thompson was likewise charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl. He turned himself in to Berkeley Township Police Headquarters on that date, and was subsequently transported to the Ocean County Jail where he has remained lodged since.
Further investigation and toxicology analysis received by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the presence of fentanyl in the victim’s system. Based upon the toxicology analysis, the Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office opined that the fentanyl found in the victim’s system was the cause of his death. As a consequence, Thompson, Wormann, and Martinez were all charged accordingly in connection with the victim’s death.
On March 18, 2024, both Wormann and Martinez pled guilty to Distribution of Fentanyl before Judge Rahill; the State is recommending they be sentenced to 364 days in the Ocean County Jail as a condition of probation. Both Wormann and Martinez are scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Rahill on June 7, 2024.
Prosecutor Billhimer commends Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Burke who handled the case on behalf of the State, and acknowledges the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Berkeley Township Police Department, Berkeley Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Trenton City Police Department, New Jersey State Police, Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office, and Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office’s Victim Witness Unit, for their combined and collaborative efforts in connection with this investigation, ultimately resulting in Thompson’s guilty plea, and now his state prison sentence.