OCPD DISMANTLES MULTI-STATE DRUG NETWORK

OCEAN CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT DISMANTLES MULTI-STATE DRUG NETWORK

The Ocean City Police Department’s Narcotics Unit recently concluded a 15 month
investigation involving a regional Oxycodone distribution network that reached Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey. The investigation, which began in April 2007, was initiated by OCPD detectives after learning large quantities of Oxycodone pills were being distributed in the Ocean City area. Ocean City Police detectives eventually enlisted the help of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), after learning the investigation reached far beyond Ocean City’s jurisdiction.

Throughout the investigation, an Ocean City Police Department undercover detective was able to make 14 individual hand-to-hand purchases for a total of more than 600 Oxycodone pills. In all, five men were charged and more than $20,000 in Oxycodone pills were seized. The main target of the investigation, Joseph Bimonte, 45, of Long Branch, NJ, sold large amounts of Oxycodone to an undercover OCPD detective on nine separate occasions between July 19, 2007 and April 26, 2008. In addition, Bimonte has been linked to four supplementary pharmaceutical drug diversion cases in the Ocean City area.



On August 29, 2008, the Federal Grand Jury for the District of Maryland handed down a twelve count criminal indictment charging Bimonte with Conspiracy to Distribute and Distribution of Oxycodone. Bimonte was arrested on September 19, 2008 in Newark, NJ, after investigators executing a search and seizure warrant recovered numerous prescription pill bottles for Oxycodone from his home.

According to the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators (NADDI), Oxycodone is a narcotic analgesic which has a high potential for abuse and is prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain. The diversion and abuse of Oxycodone has become a major public health problem across the United States.

Also facing charges in the state of Maryland due to their involvement in the Ocean City Oxycodone distribution network are:


• Gene Sams, 38, of Ocean City: (Case #2008000579) OCPD Narcotics Detectives made
contact with Gene Landon Sams on two separate occasions. The first occurred on April
16, 2008 and the second on April 23, 2008. Based on specific incidents throughout the
investigation, OCPD undercover detectives were able to implicate Sams’ involvement
in a conspiracy to distribute Oxycodone pills with Joseph Bimonte, Tyler Hays and Brian West.


Sams has been charged with the following:
o Two counts of Distribution of CDS - Oxycodone
o Three counts of Conspiracy to Distribute CDS – Oxycodone
• Brian West, 27, of Salisbury: (Case #2008001044) OCPD Narcotics Detectives made
contact with Brian Matthew West on two separate occasions. The first occurred on
April 16, 2008 and the second on April 23, 2008. During both instances, OCPD
undercover detectives were able to purchase Oxycodone pills from West and implicate
West and Gene Sams in a conspiracy to distribute Oxycodone pills. West has been
charged with the following:

o Two counts of Distribution of CDS - Oxycodone
o Two counts of Conspiracy to Distribute CDS - Oxycodone
o Two counts of Possession of CDS – Oxycodone


• John Tarr, 28, of Fenwick Island, DE: (Case # 2008004546) OCPD Narcotics Detectives
made contact with John Richard Tarr on two separate occasions. The first occurred on
July 18, 2007 and the second on July 5, 2008. During both instances, OCPD undercover
detectives were able to purchase Oxycodone pills. Tarr has been charged with the
following and currently has a warrant for his arrest:

o Two counts of Distribution of CDS - Oxycodone
o Two counts of Possession of CDS – Oxycodone


• Tyler Hays, 22, of Ocean City: (Case #2008005860) OCPD Narcotics Detectives made
contact with Tyler Hays on August 7, 2008. During this instance, OCPD undercover
detectives were able to purchase Oxycodone pills from Hays. Hays has been charged
with the following and currently has a warrant for his arrest:
o Distribution of CDS - Oxycodone
o Possession of CDS - Oxycodone