Lakewood Man Gets 12 Years for Heroin-Cocaine Distribution

A Lakewood man has been sentenced to 12 years in New Jersey state prison for operating a major drug distribution network that supplied heroin and cocaine throughout Ocean County. Kyree Kennedy, 28, received the sentence from Superior Court Judge Kimarie Rahill on Friday following his March guilty plea to possession of more than five ounces of heroin with intent to distribute, according to Patch.com.

Kennedy was also sentenced to five years in prison with five years of parole ineligibility for pleading guilty to being a certain person not to possess a firearm, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced. The sentences will run concurrently, meaning Kennedy must serve at least five years before becoming eligible for parole.

Multi-Agency Investigation Revealed Organized Distribution Network

The sentencing concludes a months-long joint investigation between local, county, state, and federal authorities targeting drug distribution in the Ocean County area. The operation, which began in December 2023, identified multiple locations in Lakewood that Kennedy and five co-defendants were allegedly using to store and distribute firearms, heroin/fentanyl, and crack cocaine.

During the investigation, authorities determined Kennedy had distributed approximately 60 bricks of heroin/fentanyl and a handgun, according to Jersey Shore Online. The multi-agency effort involved the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, and several local police departments.

“This sentencing represents the culmination of an extraordinary cooperative effort between local, county, state, and federal law enforcement agencies working together to combat the distribution of dangerous narcotics in our community,” said Prosecutor Billhimer. “The significant prison term reflects the serious nature of these offenses and our commitment to removing drug traffickers from our streets.”

Multiple Arrests and Seizures in March Operation

The investigation reached its apex on March 28, 2024, when detectives executed a coordinated series of search warrants at several Lakewood residences. At a home on Cedar Bridge Avenue where Kennedy was present, officers seized approximately 145 bricks of heroin/fentanyl, a quarter pound of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and $2,800 in cash.

Five additional suspects were arrested during the operation, including Kammani Wilson, 27, of Manchester Township, who was taken into custody with Kennedy at the Cedar Bridge Avenue residence. Wilson was charged with possession of more than five ounces of heroin with intent to distribute, conspiracy to distribute more than five ounces of heroin, possession of more than one ounce but less than five pounds of marijuana with intent to distribute, and related offenses.

At a second residence on River Avenue, detectives seized approximately 14 grams of crack cocaine, drug paraphernalia, a firearms suppressor, 43 rounds of 9mm ammunition, and $3,800 in cash. Shakira Hill, 36, of Brick Township, was arrested at this location on charges including possession of more than one-half ounce but less than five ounces of cocaine with intent to distribute and conspiracy to distribute more than five ounces of heroin.

Additional Residences Yielded More Evidence

Authorities also executed search warrants at two residences on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Lakewood. At the first location, officers discovered approximately six grams of crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia, leading to the arrests of Tyquan Jones, 31, of Whiting and Tymir Bergstrom, 23, of Lakewood.

At the second Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard residence, detectives found approximately two bricks of heroin and additional drug paraphernalia. Miguel Gonzales, 54, of Lakewood, was taken into custody at this location and charged with possession of less than one-half ounce of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of heroin, conspiracy to distribute more than five ounces of heroin, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The prosecutor’s office noted that charges against Kennedy’s five co-defendants remain pending. Wilson, Hill, and Jones were initially held at the Ocean County Jail but were subsequently released under New Jersey’s Bail Reform laws. Bergstrom and Gonzales were served with their charges via summons pending future court appearances.

Rising Concerns About Drug Distribution in Ocean County

Kennedy’s sentencing comes amid ongoing efforts by local and federal law enforcement to combat drug trafficking in Ocean County, which has experienced significant challenges with opioid distribution and related overdoses in recent years. The county has been particularly hard-hit by the opioid epidemic, with authorities reporting hundreds of suspected drug overdose deaths annually.

“The quantity of narcotics seized in this single operation represents hundreds of potentially lethal doses that would have made their way onto our streets,” said DEA Special Agent Michael Stanfield. “Each brick of heroin/fentanyl that we remove from circulation potentially saves lives in our community.”

The operation that led to Kennedy’s arrest is part of a broader effort by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and partner agencies to target drug distribution networks operating throughout the region. In February, authorities announced another major bust resulting in the arrests of three Ocean County men on narcotics offenses following a three-month investigation into drug distribution activities.

Legal Implications of Drug and Weapons Charges

Kennedy’s 12-year sentence reflects the serious nature of first-degree drug distribution charges in New Jersey, which can carry penalties of up to 20 years in prison and fines up to $500,000. The additional firearms charge, which carries a mandatory five-year period of parole ineligibility, underscores the enhanced penalties that can result when weapons are involved in drug trafficking cases.

Senior Assistant Prosecutor Timothy Kelly, who handled the case for the state, emphasized that the prosecution sends a clear message to those involved in drug distribution. “This case demonstrates our office’s commitment to aggressive prosecution of those who profit from the distribution of dangerous drugs in our community,” Kelly said. “The sentence imposed reflects the significant harm caused by these activities and our determination to hold offenders accountable.”