State Troopers have arrested four people in Lakewood after a three-month investigation that culminated in the seizure of large quantities of narcotics, weapons and drug packaging material.
On Friday, March 13, members of the Gangs and Organized Crime Central Unit, Troop “C” T.E.A.M.S, and the NJSP Canine Unit executed a search warrant at 265 Woodlake Manor Drive, Lakewood, N.J. Four suspects were located inside the home and arrested without incident. As a result of the search, detectives seized the following:
- One .357 handgun with 6 hollow point bullets (stolen GA)
- One .327 revolver (stolen GA)
- One 9 mm handgun with extended 31 round magazine
- 20 ounces of cocaine
- 52 bricks of heroin
- Two pounds of marijuana
- 190 hollow-point rounds
- Narcotic paraphernalia (scales and packaging material)
- Approximately $3000 U.S. currency
Further investigation led detectives to search a motel room in Brick Township that was rented by one of the suspects. The search led to the seizure of the following:
- One AK-47 assault rifle
- One 100-round drum
- Two 30-round magazines with ammunition
- One 9 mm handgun
- Approximately $10,000 U.S. currency
Anthony Simpson 39, of Lakewood, Jasmine Mosher, 22, of Moultrie, GA, Antonio Spradley, 23, of Moultrie, GA, and Ashley Askew, 25, of Lakewood, were charged with possession and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, possession of a weapon while committing a violation of N.J.S. 2C:35-5, possession of a weapon without a permit, possession of narcotic paraphernalia, possession of hollow point bullets, possession of a large capacity magazine, and possession of stolen movable property. Anthony Simpson was additionally charged with certain persons not to have a weapon.
All four suspects were processed at Monmouth Station and subsequently lodged in the Ocean County Jail in lieu of $660,000 with no 10 percent option. The case will be prosecuted by the Division of Criminal Justice.
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This story was first reported on our news alerts on Friday.
Thank G-d that non of the officers were hurt. With those arsenals at the two sites, they faced grave danger.
Thank you LPD and NYSP for your brave service
wow those NJ retrictive gun control really work! Look how these criminals followed them! NOT!
Its a .32 revolver not a .327
Fast and furious, Lakewood here we come.
Thats quite the arsenal & drug stock. Anyone know how many ozs to a brick of heroin ? Street value ? Good job, LPD , getting these perps & their dangerous cargo of our peaceful streets.
James,
I think you may be missing the point of NJ’s weapons laws.
Clearly criminals aren’t going to follow them; in a big bust like this, the charges are significant, and the combination weapons charges and other felonies will produce long prison terms. Without these laws, having weapons while committing felonies would produce no additional charges, and therefore no additional time.
Sometimes laws are deterrent, and sometimes laws produce long periods where law breakers are incarcerated. We win both ways.
While I acknoledge that we have a great LPD and we must thank them daily, this was a state police operation and they get credit for this! Please thank NJ State Police for this and not NYSP and not LPD
A brick of heroin is approx 5 grams
wow action in lkwd. that is so scary. thanks to the police department whichever one they deserve the credit for keeping our community safe!