July 24, 2015

One Distributor Admits Role in Conspiracy to Sell Heroin in New Jersey, Another Sentenced to 32 Months in Prison

TRENTON, NJ—One individual pleaded guilty and another was sentenced today in connection with their roles in a large-scale drug trafficking organization that distributed heroin in Ocean and Monmouth Counties, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Jason O’Neal, a/k/a “Born,” 42, of Farmingdale, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan in Trenton federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin. Dawn Rosser, 35, of Lakewood, New Jersey, also appeared before Judge Sheridan today and was sentenced to 32 months in prison. Rosser pleaded guilty on April 21, 2015 to an information charging her with one count of conspiring to distribute heroin.

In March 2014, 21 alleged members of the “Britt-Young DTO,” a drug trafficking organization named after its leaders, Robert Britt and Rufus Young, were charged by criminal complaint with conspiring to distribute heroin. Of those 21 individuals, 17 have pleaded guilty.

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

Between September 2013 and March 2014, O’Neal conspired with Rufus Young and others to distribute heroin in Ocean and Monmouth counties as part of the Britt-Young DTO. O’Neal admitted that he served as a supervisor and distributed between 100 and 400 grams of heroin in furtherance of the conspiracy. Rosser admitted that between February 2013 and March 2014, she also participated in the conspiracy and distributed between 100 and 400 grams of heroin.

The distribution conspiracy charge to which O’Neal pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and $1 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 20, 2015.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Sheridan sentenced Rosser to serve three years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, Red Bank Resident Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Richard M. Frankel, with the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Grippo of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.