Indictment Issued in Monmouth and Ocean County Drug Trafficking Case

A man from Jersey City was recently indicted in a serious federal drug trafficking case involving heroin and cocaine, which he is accused of conspiring to distribute across New Jersey, including in Monmouth and Ocean counties.

Per an announcement from U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman, 36-year-old Thomas Shannon, also known as “Cuzzo,” has been charged with a multitude of crimes for allegedly supplying heroin and cocaine to the “Britt-Young” drug trafficking organization between October 2013 and March 2014.

After being delivered to a Perth Amboy residence, the drugs were allegedly transported to stash houses located in Asbury Park and Long Branch, where they were packaged for sale. Shannon is accused of facilitating the transportation and production process. He and 20 others have now been charged in connection with this case. Notably, 15 of the 20 defendants have already pleaded guilty.

As for Shannon, he is facing charges for conspiracy to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to distribute more than a kilogram of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and engaging in a monetary transaction in criminally derived property.

Due to the seriousness of his alleged offenses, Shannon may be sentenced to serve a life-long term of imprisonment and required to pay millions of dollars in fines if he is ultimately found guilty.

If he had been charged with violations under the New Jersey Criminal Code, as opposed to federal crimes, he would still be facing severe punishments. For example, the heroin distribution charge alone warrants a maximum of 20 years in New Jersey State Prison. Under N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5, these offenses also entail a minimum term of incarceration fixed at, or between, one-third and one-half of the sentence imposed, during which the defendant is ineligible for parole.

For additional information regarding this case, access the following article: Jersey City man indicted on federal drug trafficking charges