Lacey Drug Dealer Heads to Prison For Overdose Death

A drug dealer from Lacey Township heads to prison for 71/2 years under the 'No Early Release Act" for supplying the heroin that killed a township resident early last year. 33-year-old Kenneth Staunton was sentenced Friday after pleading guilty to Manslaughter and Heroin Possession charges in the death of Raymond Farino, 27, on January 17, 2013.

"The successful prosecution in the first of our drug induced death cases should resound loudly throughout Ocean County our message to Dealers - We're Looking For You," said Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato.

Kenneth Staunton's sentencing stems from an investigation that began on January 6, 2013 regarding Staunton's Heroin dealing activities. At that time detectives were actively building intelligence on Staunton's area of operation, clients and his stamped product that proved significant in linking Staunton to Raymond Farino's overdose death, according to the Prosecutor's Office.

Officials said on January 16th, they responded to a call about a drug overdose and found Farino lying on the dining room floor of a Forked River residence, performed CPR and transported him to Community Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead.

During an investigation, Police discovered wax folds of white power stamped "IL Capo" in green letters on Farino's body which provided a direct link to Staunton's operation.

Ocean County ended 2013 with 112 overdose deaths. There were 53 drug overdose deaths in 2012.