11 people were charged in October as part of an ongoing narcotics investigation into the illegal use and distribution of prescription drugs in Hunterdon and Warren counties, according to Acting Hunterdon County Prosecutor Michael Williams.
The investigation, dubbed “Operation Oxy Klean,” targeted the use and distribution of illegally obtained Oxycodone and Percocet pain pills throughout Hunterdon and Warren Counties during 2017 and 2018, Williams said.
The following people were charged with third-degree conspiracy to possess controlled dangerous substances and disorderly persons offenses of possessing prescription legend drugs.
- Alexandria Peterson
- Davey Hendershot
- Kevin Merring
- Melissa Mace
- Michael Bishop
- Pierre Demunguia
- Sarah Norris
- Jessica Croucher
- Carlynda Zaro
- James Crouse
- Chester Williams
Prescription monitoring documents and cellphone analysis revealed an ongoing illegal redistribution of thousands of prescription pain pills for street-level consumption, Williams said.
Oxycodone and Percocet, each a Schedule II controlled substance, require a valid physician’s prescription along with the medical necessity for the prescribed dosages. Several people arrested in this investigation all were allegedly obtaining these prescriptions from physicians and nurse practitioners but diverting them for street-level sales, Williams said.
This investigation is ongoing and is being prosecuted by the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office.
