Prosecutor: Brick Man Manufactured Phony Xanax, Oxycodone Pills That Contained Fentanyl and Heroin

Mary C. Mazzi, 38, of Freeport Boulevard, Berkeley, and H. J. Zaker Sindel, 26, of Nancy Drive, Brick. (Photos: OCPO)

A Brick man was one of two Ocean County residents charged Wednesday with illegally manufacturing and selling heroin and fentanyl in pills that were marketed to buyers as Xanax, an anti-anxiety drug, and oxycodone, a pain medication.

H. J. Zaker Sindel, 26, of Nancy Drive, Brick and Mary C. Mazzi, 38, of Freeport Boulevard, Berkeley, were arrested and charged with various drug and weapons charges a result of the multi-agency investigation, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced.

Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Operations Group, Northern Enforcement Unit, joined forces with Brick and Berkeley police to conduct an investigation into the distribution of heroin and fentanyl pills. The investigation, a statement from Billhimer said, revealed that pills were being illegally manufactured and sold as prescription pain medications, such as oxycodone and alprazolam (Xanax), but were suspected to contain heroin and fentanyl. The Ocean County Sherriff’s Department Criminal Investigations Unit Lab was able to confirm that the pills did in fact contain heroin and fentanyl, the statement said.

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Brick and Berkeley police executed search warrants at Monday at 10 Nancy Drive in Brick and 183 Freeport Boulevard in Berkeley Township. During the execution of the search warrants, prosecutors said, a second-degree quantity of suspected heroin and fentanyl, three handguns, and manufacturing equipment and paraphernalia were located and seized by detectives.

As a result of the investigation and search warrants, both Sindel and Mazzi were arrested, charged, and subsequently transported to the Ocean County Jail where they were housed pending their detention hearings.

“The seized heroin/fentanyl laced pills closely resemble that of legitimate prescription pain medication Oxycodone,” said Billhimer. “The public should understand the dangers of purchasing prescription pills without a prescription and outside of a licensed pharmacy. These pills may contain heroin, fentanyl or other unknown and dangerous, sometimes fatal, substances.”

Sindel was charged with:

• 1^st Degree Maintaining a CDS Production Facility.
• 2^nd Degree Possession of a firearm during the commission of a CDS Offense.
• 2^nd Degree Possession of a firearm while being a “Certain Persons” to not possess firearm.
• 2^nd Degree Possession with the Intent to Distribute Over one-half ounce of Heroin/Fentanyl.
• 3^rd Degree Possession of Heroin/Fentanyl.
• 3^rd Degree Possession with the Intent to Distribute Over one ounce of Marijuana.
• 4^th Degree Possession of over Fifty Grams of Marijuana.
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Disorderly Persons Offense).

Mazzi was charged with:

• 1^st Degree Maintaining a CDS Production Facility.
• 2^nd Degree Possession with the Intent to Distribute Over one half ounce of Heroin/Fentanyl.
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Disorderly Persons Offense).