Police, Fire & Courts

Brick Resident Among Six Charged in Alleged Drug Ring

by
Daniel Nee
April 16, 2024

Kyree Kennedy (Photo: Ocean County Jail)

Prosecutors in Ocean County this week announced the arrest of six local residents in connection with a drug distribution ring, which included the work of a slew of local police departments, county law enforcement and federal agencies.

The cooperative, multi-agency investigation identified multiple locations in Lakewood Township that were being utilized by Kyree Kennedy, 28, of Lakewood, and his co-defendants to store and distribute firearms, heroin/fentanyl, and crack cocaine in Ocean County, prosecutors said. During the course of the investigation, Kennedy was found to have distributed approximately 59 bricks of heroin/fentanyl and a handgun.

Those arrested included Shakira Hill, 36, of Brick Township, who was taken into custody at a residence following a court-authorized raid.

According to the statement, detectives on March 28 established stationary and mobile surveillance on Kennedy, who was observed to be at a residence on Cedar Bridge Avenue in Lakewood. A short time later, detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Lakewood Township Police Department Special Response Team, and Jackson Township Police Department Special Response Team, executed a court-authorized search warrant on the residence. As a result, detectives seized approximately 145 bricks of heroin/fentanyl, a quarter pound of marijuana, assorted drug paraphernalia, and $2,800 in United States currency.

Taken into custody at the residence were Kennedy and Kammani Wilson, 27, of Manchester.

On that same date, in furtherance of the investigation, officers executed three additional court-authorized search warrants on residences in Lakewood Township.

The search of a home on River Avenue allegedly yielded approximately 14 grams of crack cocaine, assorted drug paraphernalia, a firearms suppressor, 43 rounds of 9mm ammunition, and $3,800 in United States currency. That is the home in which Hill, the Brick resident, was taken into custody.

Two more search warrants were carried out on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Lakewood, with police seizing approximately two bricks of heroin and assorted drug paraphernalia in once residence, and approximately six grams of crack cocaine and assorted drug paraphernalia in the other. Miguel Gonzales, 54, of Lakewood, was taken into custody at one residence. Tymir Bergstrom, 23, of Lakewood, and Tyquan Jones, 31, of Whiting, were placed into custody at the other.

The suspects:

Kennedy was charged with Possession of More than Five Ounces of Heroin with Intent to Distribute, Possession of More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Heroin/Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute, Possession of More than One Half Ounce but less than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of More than One Ounce but Less than Five Pounds of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Conspiracy to Distribute More than Five Ounces of Heroin/Fentanyl, Possession of Heroin, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of a Firearm During a Controlled Dangerous Substance Offense, Certain Person Not to Possess a Firearm, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, and Financial Facilitation. Kennedy was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he remains detained pending trial.
Wilson was charged with Possession of More than Five Ounces of Heroin with Intent to Distribute, Conspiracy to Distribute More than Five Ounces of Heroin, Possession of More than One Ounce but Less than Five Pounds of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Heroin, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Wilson was transported to the Ocean County Jail and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
Hill was charged with Possession of More than One Half Ounce but less than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Conspiracy to Distribute More than Five Ounces of Heroin, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of a Firearms Suppressor, and Financial Facilitation. Hill was transported to the Ocean County Jail and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
Jones was charged with Possession of Less than One Half Ounce of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Cocaine, Conspiracy to Distribute More than Five Ounces of Heroin, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Jones was transported to the Ocean County Jail and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
Bergstrom was charged with Possession of Less than One Half Ounce of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Cocaine, Conspiracy to Distribute More than Five Ounces of Heroin, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Bergstrom was transported to the Ocean County Jail, processed, and served with the charges via summons pending an upcoming first appearance in Ocean County Superior Court.
Gonzales was charged with Possession of Less than One Half Ounce of Heroin with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Heroin, Conspiracy to Distribute More than Five Ounces of Heroin, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Gonzalez was transported to the Ocean County Jail, processed, and served with the charges via summons pending an upcoming first appearance in Ocean County Superior Court.