CREST HAVEN — Cape May County Prosecutor Robert Taylor today announced the early-morning arrests of 31 suspects who were charged, with conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance, cocaine.
Law enforcement officers took that action as part of a continuing sweep that included officers from the county Prosecutor’s Office, Narcotics Task Force, Lower, Middle, Cape May and North Wildwood police departments.
All suspects were released on their own recognizance with the exception of Pisieczko, who was remanded to county jail in lieu of $15,000 cash bail.
Arrests resulted from the narcotics operation reported last week that involved the alleged drug distribution network of Stephen Grasch, operating in southern Cape May County.
Arrested were:
Noreen Cicero, 35, 801 Heather Lane, Erma; Thomas McCullen, 25, 714 Adriatic Ave., North Cape May; David Hawthorne, 41, 102 Appleblossom Dr., North Cape May; Justin R. Fesler, 31, 610 Jonathan Hoffman Road, Cape May.
Scott David Jones, 35, 5 Carriage Lane, Court House; Cynthia L. Bohn, 41, 938 Carol Ave., Cape May; James Conti, 40, 603 Pilgrim Plaza, North Cape May.
Justine Johnson, 37, 264 Grant St., Cape May; Casimir M. Rupinski III, 35, 752 Route 9 South, Erma; Matthew Walter, 33, 57 Hudson Ave., Villas; Thomas C. Vanaman, 50, 791 Tabernacle Road, Erma; Stephanie Linhares (Husak), 42, 287 Sixth Ave., Apt. A, West Cape May.
Matthew Linhares, 40, 287 Sixth Ave., Apt. A, West Cape May; Roy Osmundsen, 49, 414 Whippoorwill Lane, Dias Creek; Donald J. Roth, 32, 40 Croydon Dr., North Cape May; Stephen Groetsch, 32, 305 Monomy Terrace, North Cape May.
Patricia M. Whitten, 42, 130 Cloverdale, Villas; Christa Iames, 29, 124 Sunnyside Dr., North Cape May; Michelle Stillwagon, 38, 109 Claremont Ave., North Cape May; Mark T. Stillwagon, 47, 109 Claremont Ave., North Cape May; Dawn M. Ford, 39, 501 W. Wilde Ave., Villas.
David Tosto, 35, 127 Hedi Ave., North Cape May; William Weidman, 54, 343 Route 47, Court House; Jennifer McCool, 41, 101 Townbank Road, North Cape May; Russell Coombs Jr., 42, 503 Gorham Ave., North Cape May.
Ray Williams Jr., 34, 101 Townbank Road, North Cape May; Patricia Dever, 48, 605 Whittier Ave., North Cape May; John Taylor, 40, 705 Rose Hill Parkway, North Cape May; John J. Pisieczko, 35, 620 Loebe Ave., Erma; Sean Gallagher, 43, 212 Iselin Lane, North Cape May; Christopher Heitman, 29, 2 Golf Lane, Cape May.
As previously reported, the county Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force initiated an 18-month long investigation into the activities of Stephen G. Grasch, 29, of Green Creek and his father, Albert T. Grasch Sr., 59, of North Cape May.
That investigation was brought to a conclusion when investigators interrupted the sale of over four ounces of cocaine by Stephen DiCristofaro of Medford to Stephen Grasch on the evening of Aug. 18.
Consequently, 40 members of the Cape May County Regional SWAT Team spread out across Middle and Lower townships to simultaneously execute search warrants at three locations.
The residences of Stephen, Albert Sr., and Stephen’s mother, Karen Grasch were locations searched with court-authorized search warrants.
Approximately $26,000 cash, and 4.5 ounces of cocaine with an estimated street value of $13,000 and over 600 prescription pills including Xanax, hydrocodone and anabolic steroids estimated at a street value of over $3,500 and four motor vehicles were among the items seized during those searches.
Those arrested in that action included:
Stephen G. Grasch, 29, 900 S. Route 47, Green Creek, charged as leader of a narcotics distribution network. His bail was set at $500,000, and he was remanded to county jail
Albert T. Grasch Sr., 57, 506 Washington Blvd., North Cape May, charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, endangering the welfare of a child, distribution of cocaine over a half ounce. Bail was $200,000 cash for the first two charges and additional $200,000 cash for the other charge. He was remanded to county jail.
Stephen DiCristofaro, 46, 7 Rams Court, Medford, charged with distribution of CDS. Bail was $100,000 cash. He was remanded to county jail.
Karen M. Grasch, 57, 120 Vermont Ave., Villas, charged with distribution of CDS. Bail was $100,000; she was released on her own recognizance.
Arthur W. Creamer, 58, 301 Washington Blvd., North Cape May, charged with conspiracy to distribute CDS, obstruction and hindering. Bail was $200,000; he was released in his own recognizance.
Hector R. Velez, 35, 3449 Helen St., Philadelphia, charged with possession of CDS and distribution of CDS. Bail was $25,000 cash. He was remanded to county jail.
Emma D. Velez, 34, 8030 Ditman St., Philadelphia, charged with possession of CDS and distribution of CDS. Bail was $25,000 cash. He was remanded to county jail.
Taylor said that persons convicted of being a leader (kingpin) of a narcotics distribution network may be sentenced up to life imprisonment during which the person must serve 25 years before being parole eligible.
Civil forfeiture actions were filed last week by the Prosecutor’s Office in Superior Court seeking forfeiture of the real property known as 506 Washington Blvd., North Cape May owned by Albert and Karen Grasch as well as 900 Route 47, Green Creek, owned by Stephen Grasch.
Forfeiture actions are also anticipated on the four seized vehicles.
The Prosecutor’s Office will also seek forfeiture of $57,300 in cash that includes $31,300 in cash funds seized by search warrant from a safe deposit box rented in the name of Albert Grasch.
Taylor said the investigation was continuing and additional arrests are pending in another phase of the investigation.
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