A year-long investigation into a large-scale marijuana and THC distribution network involving mass quantities of THC-infused candy and vape and more than 1,000 pounds of marijuana, valued at $1.9 million, has resulted in charges being lodged against 24 men and women with one remaining at large, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced.

The drug ring investigation, dubbed Operation on the Ropes was operated throughout Monmouth, Ocean and Bergen counties as well as New York.

It uncovered a scheme by its alleged operators to secretly convert legitimate candies, including the popular Nerds Rope and Sour Patch candy brands, to an illegal THC-infused product. 

THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the substance that creates most of marijuana’s “high.” Operation On The Ropes culminated with the execution of more than a dozen search warrants in Monmouth, Ocean, and Bergen counties resulting in the seizure of approximately 21,000 packages of candy infused with suspected THC, 1,100 lbs. of suspected marijuana, and over 6,000 flavored THC vape cartridges, all with an estimated street value of $1.9 million.

“The network operators used regular candy to further their scheme, buying hundreds of boxes of product from wholesalers before transporting it to a processing facility where they would unwrap the individual pieces of candy, lay it out on trays and then spraying the candy with a concentrated formula of THC distillate. Once the THC dried on the candy it was repackaged as an illegal marijuana edibles product for distribution across New Jersey.”

Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni

The alleged illegal operation involved use of a warehouse on Park Avenue in Manalapan Township and a hangar at Monmouth Executive Airport in Wall Township as production and storage facilities.

The approximate 21,000 pieces of candy were manufactured with unknown amounts of THC, translating to more than 100,000 individual doses. The THC products that were processed were then allegedly intermingled with THC products that the network operators illegally trafficked into New Jersey from a supplier in California. The THC products alone have an estimated street value of nearly $900,000.

“The packaging on this THC laced ‘candy’ is almost indistinguishable from regular drug store candy. Your kids may be getting high right before your eyes, if you are not paying close attention. This illegal operation makes juveniles and anyone who consumes these products susceptible to random levels of drug toxicity.”

Monmouth County Chief of Detectives John G. McCabe

Also seized were machines and paraphernalia used to repackage and repurpose the legitimate candies as marijuana-related edible products. The investigation did not reveal use of the airport to transport any of the illegal drugs to other areas inside or outside of New Jersey.

The tainted candy

Seized during the investigation were 1,200 THC-infused Sour Patch Watermelon candy packages labeled, “Stoner Patch” edibles; 6,250 “Baked Burgerz” edibles; 3,111 TCH-infused “Nerd Ropes,” individually repackaged in red, pink, yellow and blue wrappers. 

Also seized were 1,151 Tic Tac-type containers without labels; numerous boxes and trays of Nerd Ropes in various stages of the infusion process; and 6,542 THC vape cartridges in a variety of 16 different flavors.

 “The operation used their own wrappers and labels to repackage the drug-infused candy. There were no sanitary measures taken, no safety apparatus, and there were certainly were no standards in place to ensure the product was not contaminated. Consumers of these products had no way of knowing exactly what they were ingesting.”

Middletown Township Police Chief Craig Weber, president of the Monmouth County Chiefs Association.

Seized property and assets

A total of $10,151,711 in assets, $1,483,859 in cash, and 21 high-end exotic vehicles, including cars like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bentley, Rolls Royce, and Mercedes Benz, with an estimated total value of approximately $2,783,445, were also seized as part of the criminal investigation.

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The people arrested and charged in Operation On The Ropes:

Dylon J. Addvensky, 27, of Freehold Borough, first-degree leader of a narcotics trafficking network, second-degree conspiracy to distribute marijuana in excess of 25 pounds, first-degree possession with intent to distribute marijuana and/or hashish in excess of 25 pounds, first-degree knowingly maintaining and operating a facility for the production of marijuana, and fourth-degree possession of marijuana and/or hashish in excess of 50 grams.

Eric L. Karlewicz, a/k/a Anthony Mazza 40, of Colts Neck, is charged with second-degree conspiracy to distribute marijuana in excess of 25 pounds, first-degree possession with Intent to distribute marijuana in excess of 25 pounds, and fourth-degree possession of marijuana in excess of 50 grams.

Nicco C. Romanowski, 27, of Freehold Township, second-degree conspiracy to distribute marijuana in excess of 25 pounds, first-degree possession with intent to distribute marijuana in excess of 25 pounds, and fourth-degree possession of marijuana in excess of 50 grams.

Anthony Dalessandro, 30, of Los Angeles, California, is charged with second-degree conspiracy to distribute marijuana in excess of 25 pounds, first-degree possession of marijuana and/or hashish with intent to distribute, first-degree maintaining and operating a facility for the production of marijuana, and fourth-degree possession of marijuana and/or hashish in excess of 50 grams. D’Alessandro remains at-large and is considered a fugitive from justice.

Ariel Baez, 45, of Lodi, New Jersey, first-degree possession with intent to distribute marijuana in excess of 25 pounds, and fourth-degree possession of marijuana in excess of 50 grams.

Mathew R. Caracappa, 24, of Freehold Township, second-degree conspiracy, first-degree possession of marijuana and/or hashish in excess of 25 pounds, first-degree knowingly maintaining and operating a facility for the production of marijuana and/or hashish, and fourth-degree possession of marijuana and/or hashish in excess of 50 grams.

Lawrence A. Cella, 28, of Jackson Township, is charged with second-degree conspiracy to distribute marijuana and/or hashish, first-degree possession with intent to distribute marijuana and hashish, first-degree maintaining and operating a facility for the production of marijuana and hashish, and fourth-degree possession of marijuana and/or hashish.

Richard C. Chamas, 43, of Jackson Township, is charged with a disorderly persons offense of obstruction of the lawful arrest of Paul G. Hobbs, who is listed below.

Lee D’Avanzo, 52, of Staten Island, New York, is charged with fourth-degree conspiracy to possess marijuana, fourth-degree possession of marijuana in excess of 50 grams.

Nicholas A. D’Ambrosio, 28, of Manalapan, third-degree possession of cocaine and a disorderly persons offenses of possession of marijuana under 50 grams.

Alfonse D’Ambrosio, 26, of Howell Township, is charged with third-degree possession of anabolic steroids, fourth-degree resisting arrest, fourth-degree possession of examestone without a prescription.

Angelynn J. Fecso, of Colts Neck, second-degree conspiracy to distribute marijuana in excess of 25 pounds, first-degree possession with intent to distribute marijuana in excess of 25 pounds, and fourth-degree possession of marijuana in excess of 50 grams.

Matthew V. Filosa, 28, of Freehold Borough, is charged with second-degree conspiracy to distribute marijuana and/or hashish in excess of 25 pounds, first-degree possession with intent to distribute marijuana and/or hashish in excess of 25 pounds, first-degree maintaining and operating a facility for the production of marijuana and/or hashish, fourth-degree possession of marijuana and/or hashish in excess of 50 grams.

Paul G. Hobbs, 27, of Jackson Township, is charged with second-degree conspiracy to distribute marijuana and/or hashish in excess of 25 pounds, first-degree possession with intent to distribute marijuana and/or hashish in excess of 25 pounds, first-degree maintaining and operating a facility for the production of marijuana and/or hashish, fourth-degree possession of marijuana in excess of 50 grams.

Ryan D. Hult, 39, of Riverdale in Morris County, New Jersey, is charged with second-degree conspiracy to distribute marijuana and/or hashish in excess of 25 pounds, first-degree possession with intent to distribute marijuana and/or hashish in excess of 25 pounds, and fourth-degree possession of marijuana and/or hashish in excess of 50 grams.

Jason M. Lambros, 21, of Point Pleasant Beach, is charged with disorderly persons offenses of possession of marijuana under 50 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Joseph A. Mari, 28, of Voorhees Township in Camden County, New Jersey, is charged with second-degree conspiracy to distribute marijuana and hashish, second-degree possession with intent to distribute marijuana and hashish, and fourth-degree possession of marijuana and hashish.

Gianna P. Mazzone, 23, of Egg Harbor Township, is charged with third-degree possession of cocaine and a disorderly persons offenses of possession of marijuana under 50 grams.

John T. Page, 25, of the Mickleton section of Greenwich Township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, is charged with second-degree conspiracy to distribute marijuana and hashish, first-degree possession with intent to distribute marijuana and hashish, first-degree maintaining and operating a facility for the production of marijuana and hashish, and fourth-degree possession of marijuana and hashish.

Hannah R. Olstein, 25, Freehold Township, is charged with fourth-degree possession of marijuana under 50 grams and a disorderly persons offense of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Daniel J. Riley, 25, of Brick Township, second-degree conspiracy to distribute marijuana and/or hashish in excess of 25 pounds, first-degree possession with intent to distribute marijuana and/or hashish in excess of 25 pounds, first-degree maintaining and operating a facility for the production of marijuana, and fourth-degree possession of marijuana and/or hashish in excess of 50 grams.

Kevin M. Shields, 31 of Jackson Township, is charged with second-degree conspiracy to distribute marijuana and hashish, first-degree possession with intent to distribute marijuana and hashish, and fourth-degree possession of marijuana and hashish.

Alexa L. Stimpfel, 27, of Freehold Borough, is charged with fourth-degree possession of marijuana under 50 grams.

Matthew C. Tracy, 27, of Jackson Township, is charged with fourth-degree conspiracy to possess marijuana and hashish, and fourth-degree possession of marijuana and hashish.

There is an ongoing investigation into the financial activities of the criminal enterprise. Anyone with information about the activities of any of the defendants listed above or any of the following companies Empire Pain Center, Empire Power and Gas Holdings, Global Empire International Holdings, Supreme Lead Generations, Platinum Communication Services, Platinum Funding Associates, Jenza Properties, LLC, Dynasty Property Holdings are urged to contact Captain Maria Reverendo of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, at 1-800-533-7443.  

— Edited press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office