Three Ocean County residents indicted for distributing lethal dose of heroin

An Ocean County Grand Jury has indicted three people who dealt a lethal drug package of heroin and fentanyl to a man who later died in January, announced Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer.

Between January 5 and 9 Curtis Geathers of Barnegat sold the wax folds to Michael Tiedemann of Toms River and Tiffany Coger of Seaside Heights.

Tiedemann then distributed the wax folds to the victim who was found unresponsive in his home the next day.

Darnell Williams of Jackson has also been charged in connection to the investigation for selling cocaine.

On the morning of January 10, the victim’s family discovered the victim unresponsive inside the home and contacted the police.

The victim was pronounced dead on January 12.

It was determined through the investigation that the victim died as a result of ingesting Herion and Fentanyl.

The indictment is the result of a collaborative investigation conducted by multiple law enforcement agencies in Ocean County, including the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Point Pleasant Borough Police Department, Seaside Heights Police Department, Toms River Township Police Department, Toms River Police Department’s Special Enforcement Team and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department’s Crime Scene Investigation Unit.

Curtis M. Geathers, 33, of Barnegat, was charged with one (1) count of Strict Liability Drug Induced Death in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5 and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-9a; two (2) counts of Distribution of Heroin in an amount less than one-half ounce in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(3); two (2) counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin in an amount less than one-half ounce in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(3); two (2) counts of Possession of Heroin in violation of amount less than one ounce in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(5); three (3) counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl in an amount less than one ounce in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(5); three (3) counts of Possession of Fentanyl in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1); and one (1) count of Possession Methamphetamine in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1).

Geathers is presently lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.

Michael M. Tiedemann, 45, of Toms River, is charged with one (1) count of Strict Liability Drug Induced Death in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5 and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-9a; one (1) count of Distribution of Heroin in an amount less than one-half ounce in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(3); two (2) counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin in an amount less than one-half ounce in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(3); two (2) counts of Possession of Heroin in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1); one (1) count of Distribution of Fentanyl in an amount less than one ounce in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(5); two (2) counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl in an amount less than one ounce in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(5); two (2) counts of Possession of Fentanyl in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1); one (1) count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine in an amount less than one-half ounce in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(3); and one (1) count of Possession of Cocaine in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1).

An Indictment Warrant has been issued for Tiedemann’s arrest.

Tiffany R. Coger, 35, of Seaside Heights, is charged with one (1) count of Strict Liability Drug Induced Death in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5 and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-9a; two (2) counts of Distribution of Heroin in an amount less than one-half ounce in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(3); two (2) counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin in an amount less than one-half ounce in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(3); two (2) counts of Possession of Heroin in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1); two (2) counts of Distribution of Fentanyl in an amount less than one ounce in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(5); two (2) counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl in an amount less than one ounce in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(5); two (2) counts of Possession of Fentanyl in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1); and one (1) count of Possession of Cocaine in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1).

An Indictment Warrant has been issued for Coger’s arrest.

Though not alleged to be criminally responsible in the victim’s death, Darnell D. Williams, 36, of Jackson, has been charged in this investigation with one (1) count of Distribution of Cocaine in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(3); one (1) count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine in an amount less than one-half ounce in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(3); and one (1) count of Possession of Cocaine in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1).

Williams is already lodged in the Ocean County Jail on other charges.

“This was a collaborative effort on the part of my office and many of our local police departments.  We are all committed to sharing our intelligence to make sure we put these drug dealers on notice; Ocean County is not the place to pedal your illegal and dangerous narcotics,” Prosecutor Billhimer said.

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