Twenty Indicted For Roles in Long Branch Heroin and Gun Bust

Last summer's massive drug and gun bust resulted in the arrests of more than 40 people, and now the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office has handed out indictments to about half of those individuals.

The people indicted, which include Long Branch and Eatontown residents, were arrested and charged last August in connection with an alleged Long Branch-based racketeering network responsible for the distribution of heroin and assault firearms.

According to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, the alleged leader of the network is Anthony Stevenson a/k/a Nygee, 43, of Overlook Avenue, Long Branch. Stevenson was indicted on May 14 and is the owner of Christabell's American Soul Food Restaurant on Springfield Avenue, Long Branch.

The indictment alleges that Stevenson either orchestrated or sold heroin to an undercover officer on several occasions. Thirty-eight bricks of heroin and an unspecified amount of cocaine were purchased from Stevenson and his associates.

According to prosecutor’s office, Stevenson allegedly obtained most of the heroin he sold from Uwenzin Jenkins, 39, of West Orange, who was also indicted on Monday.

The Indictment alleges that Stevenson and his co-conspirators are members of a hierarchal criminal enterprise whose members have specific roles within the conspiracy. Walter Taylor III, 34, of Long Branch; Kevin Foye, 35, of Neptune Township; and Trevor Stovall, 33, of Neptune Township are alleged to have been drug suppliers utilized by Stevenson and his associates in addition to the quantities supplied by Jenkins. Taylor, Foye and Stovall were all named in Monday's indictment.

During the investigation, law enforcement learned that Walter Taylor, III and co-conspirator Latief Forbes, who was also indicted, were maintaining a controlled dangerous substance production facility located in Freehold Township. Stovall supplied Stevenson and his associates with quantities of cocaine and, on multiple occasions, sold cocaine to an undercover officer.

A number of mid-level heroin dealers associated with Stevenson and his enterprise are charged in the indictment including: Russell Vann, of Red Bank, James Soweski, of Eatontown, John M. Cooper, James Williams, Robert Gilliard, Derrick Alberts, Paul Brown, Willie Starks, and Raymond Pridgen, all of Long Branch.

Kenrick Crawford, of Asbury Park and Rozina McCullers, of Long Branch, were indicted for racketeering conspiracy for their roles as “runners” who distributed, stored or collected money for the sale of quantities of heroin sold under Stevenson’s supervision and at his direction.

Former Long Branch residents Amos Castro, 40, who currently resides in South Carolina; and Leroy Taylor, 41, who currently resides in North Carolina were also indicted on Monday for allegedly buying and selling illegal firearms.

According to the prosecutor’s office, on April 11, 2011, Castro allegedly sold a handgun to an undercover officer in Stevenson’s restaurant.  On July 21, Stevenson allegedly sold two assaults rifles he obtained from Taylor to an undercover officer in the parking lot of a West Long Branch gas station.

All the men indicted are facing numerous racketeering and possession of illegal drug and gun charges.

Stevenson is facing charges that include second degree racketeering conspiracy, first degree leader of narcotics trafficking, 23 counts of third degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance and three counts of second degree transporting firearms into state for unlawful sale.

The charge of first degree Leader of Narcotics Trafficking, alone, carries a maximum custodial term of life in New Jersey State Prison.

During the course of the investigation, approximately 200 bricks of heroin, a quantity of cocaine and approximately $72,000 in U.S. currency was seized, the prosecutor's office announced. The heroin seized has an estimated street value of approximately $50,000.