Twenty defendants, 136 counts in massive Monmouth heroin indictment

Three Aberdeen men and an alleged cohort from Essex County risk life in prison if convicted of leading a massive heroin network in Monmouth and Middlesex Counties.

Gregory "IA" Moore, 34; Terrence "T9" Brown, 38, Edward "Head" Gutridge II, 30; and Halee Wing, 37, of East Orange, are suspected of leading the ring that was smashed last May following a 10-month multi-level investigation. Twenty defendants in all, from as far away as New York City, are identified in the indictment.

According to information from acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Chris Gramiccioni, each faces a first-degree count of leading a narcotics trafficking network, first- and second-degree possession and distribution charges, and a second-degree conspiracy count.

Investigators in "Operation Family Tides" allege that transactions took place daily in houses and apartments in both counties, that many suspected dealers are related, and that they recruited people to package the raw heroin that were sold mainly in Aberdeen's Cliffwood section.

Indicted on first- and second-degree charges of possession and distribution and second-degree conspiracy charges are Isaiah "Zeke" Edwards, 25, and Bianca Edwards, 22, of Old Bridge; Raymond "Hood" Jackson, 30, of Keyport; Joseph "Rule" Jackson Jr., 44, of Matawan; Krystal Mell, 26, of Keansburg; James "King James" Hemenway, 37, of Woodbridge; and Alina Alma, 24, of New York City. Authorities categorize them as co-conspirators.

Gutridge also faces a third-degree possession charge along with Jessica German, 21, of New York City.

Gutridge, Wing, Alma and Timothy Davidson, 38, of Old Bridge, are accused of running one operation in a Perth Amboy apartment. In this regard, they're each charged with first-degree maintaining or operating a controlled dangerous substance production facility, along with second-degree possession with intent to distribute.

Investigators accuse Hemenway of running a second network from an apartment in Woodbridge. He's charged with first-degree counts of possession with intent to distribute.

Indicted for allegedly buying the narcotics are Ryan Murphy, 26, and Taheem Brown, 22, of Aberdeen's Cliffwood section; Jason Remp, 21, of Hazlet, and Christine Owens, 44, of Hazlet's West Keansburg section; and James Mitchell, 57, Shannon Lecomte, 21, and Denise Giuriceo, 41, of Keansburg. They're charged with third-degree counts of conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance, and possession.

Authorities say the penalty for a conviction on leading a narcotics trafficking network is life in prison. The second-degree charges related to the case are punishable on conviction by prison terms of up to 10 years. Conviction on third-degree charges translate to possible sentences of up to five years. Fourth-degree charges could add another 18 months.