Crime, Regional Interest

Prosecutor: Suspended Cop Pleads Guilty to Illegal Prescription Drug Possession

A suspended Ocean Township police officer pleaded guilty late last week to unlawful possession of Clenbuterol, a popular weight loss supplement which is not approved for human use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced.

Ryan Vaccaro, 38, of Ocean Township, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree possession of a prescription legend drug (Clenbuterol) as part of a plea agreement struck with the Prosecutor’s Office. 

During his plea, Vaccaro acknowledged that between May 1, 2018 and Feb. 19, 2019, he was knowingly in possession of five or more dosage units of Clenbuterol and that he did not have a lawful prescription for that substance.

Vaccaro was originally charged, on Feb. 19, 2019, with: fourth-degree possession of a prescription legend drug, second-degree possession with intent to distribute a prescription legend drug, and second-degree distribution of a prescription legend drug, as a result of an investigation connected to former Deal Police officer Joseph Ammaturo, who entered a guilty plea last month.  

The investigation revealed that Ammaturo obtained three boxes of Astralean Clenbuterol containing approximately 150 pills from Vaccaro and that Ammaturo distributed two of those boxes to other individuals.  The third box was ultimately recovered from Ammaturo’s residence.  Additional Clenbuterol pills were found in Vaccaro’s residence during the execution of a search warrant.

Clenbuterol is a drug used to treat breathing disorders in animals and is not approved for human use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.  It is popular among human consumers as a weight loss supplement despite its banned status.

As part of his plea agreement, an order permanently barring Vaccaro from holding public office in New Jersey was entered and signed by Judge Lucas today. The plea agreement also permits Vaccaro to apply to the pre-trial intervention program.

Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 9, at which time Vacarro faces a probationary sentence.

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