Two New Jersey Men Admit Roles in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

TRENTON, N.J. –Two New Jersey men today admitted their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed significant quantities of heroin and cocaine in the Bayshore area of Monmouth and Middlesex counties, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Gregory Gillens, 47, of Hillside, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti in Trenton federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin.  Gillens also admitted to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine.

Tyler Scarangello, 34, of Hazlet, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before Judge Martinotti to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine.

In November 2018, Gillens, Scarangello, and 13 others were charged in a federal criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine. Gillens and Scarangello are the sixth and seventh defendants to plead guilty.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

From May 2017 to November 2018, the defendants and others engaged in a narcotics conspiracy that operated in the Raritan Bayshore region of Middlesex and northern Monmouth counties.

Through the interception of telephone calls and text messages pursuant to court-authorized wiretap orders, controlled purchases of heroin and cocaine, the use of confidential sources of information, and other investigative techniques, law enforcement learned that Gillens regularly supplied large quantities of heroin and cocaine for further distribution to codefendants Guy Jackson, Richard Gethers, and Deberal Rogers. Law enforcement also learned that Jackson distributed the narcotics to others, including Scarangello.

Members of the conspiracy sold the narcotics to other conspirators, distributors, sub-dealers, and end-users in the Bayshore area. Some of the heroin distributed by the conspiracy contained fentanyl, a dangerous synthetic opioid.

The heroin conspiracy count to which Gillens pleaded guilty carries a statutory mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a maximum fine of $10 million. The cocaine conspiracy to which Scarangello pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $1 million. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 19, 2020.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, Newark Division, Red Bank Resident Agency, Jersey Shore Gang and Criminal Organization Task Force (including representatives from the Bradley Beach Police Department, Brick Police Department, Howell Police Department, Marlboro Police Department, Monmouth County Sheriff's Office, Toms River Police Department, and Union Beach Police Department) under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie; Special Agents of the FBI, Philadelphia Division, Scranton Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael T. Harpster; the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent; the Matawan Police Department, under the direction of Chief Thomas J. Falco, Jr.; the Holmdel Police Department, under the direction of Chief John Mioduszewski; the Highlands Police Department, under the direction of Chief Robert Burton; the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni; the Old Bridge Police Department, under the direction of Chief William A. Volkert; the Keansburg Police Department, under the direction of Chief James K. Pigott; the Hazlet Police Department, under the direction of Chief Philip Meehan; and the Aberdeen Police Department, under the direction of Chief John T. Powers, with the investigation leading to today’s pleas.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elisa T. Wiygul of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.

The charges and allegations against the remaining eight defendants are merely accusations and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.