Shooting into empty NJ home ends in heroin drug charges against these 25 people

WILDWOOD — An investigation prompted by a June 17 shooting of a Youngs Avenue apartment ended in the arrest of 25 South Jersey residents.

Michael Morales, 24, Xavier Goicohia, 20, and William Sierra, 31, were accused of shooting a handgun into the empty apartment, Cape May County Prosecutor Robert L. Taylor said.

The three are now facing life in prison after being charged with running a drug ring.

Investigators executed 12 search warrants and confiscated 1,800 bags of heroin with a street value of in excess of $18,000, 1.5 ounces of cocaine with street value of $4,200, four firearms, five automobiles and $54,000 in cash.

Morales, a resident of the 100 East block of Lincoln Avenue, was charged with first-degree leader of a narcotics trafficking network; second-degree conspiracy to possess drugs; second-degree conspiracy to distribute; second-degree burglary; second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon; and second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. Morales was being held at the Cape May County Correctional Center with bail set at $700,000 cash.

Goicochia, a resident of the 200 East block of Cresse Avenue, was charged with first-degree leader of a narcotics trafficking network; second-degree conspiracy to possess drugs; second-degree conspiracy to distribute; second-degree burglary; second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon; second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose; and third-degree possession and distribution charges. He also was being held at the jail on $700,000 cash bail.

Sierra, a resident of the 200 East block of Cresse Avenue, Goicochia, a resident of the 200 East block of Cresse Avenue, was charged with first-degree leader of a narcotics trafficking network; second-degree conspiracy to possess drugs; second-degree conspiracy to distribute; second-degree conspiracy to commit burglary; second-degree conspiracy to unlawfully possess a weapon; second-degree conspiracy to possess a weapon for an unlawful purpose; and third-degree possession and distribution charges. He was being held at the jail on $300,000 cash bail.

The following suspects were charged with second-degree charges of conspiracy to possess and distribute drugs. The were locked up at the jail with cash bail set at $100,000.

Wilson Reyes-Goycochea, 30, of the 100 West block Roberts Avenue.

Christian Ramos, 21, of the 100 West block of Roberts Avenue.

Carlos Ramos-Maldonado, 25, of the 3800 block of Pacific Avenue.

Jorge Aviles-Morales, 27, of the 3700 block Arctic Avenue.

Clay W. Smith, 45, of Amberjack Road, Cape May Court House.

Eric R. Nolan, 33, of Greenwood Avenue, Lower Township.

Jonathan Ramos-Ocasio, 28, of the 400 block of West Garfield Avenue, and Virginia Long, 27, of the 3800 block Pacific Avenue, were charged with third-degree possession of drugs and second-degree possession within 500 feet of a public place. They were being held at the jail with $75,000 cash bail.

Gary W. Lucas, 42, of Croydon Drive, North Cape May, was charged with third-degree possession and distribution charges. He was released with a court summons.

Christine V. Pagan, 29, of the 500 block of North Wildwood Boulevard, and Brittany Neeb, 29, of the 200 East block of Cresse Avenue, were released with a court summons after being charged with possession.

Shane M. Sweeney, 50, of the 400 block of Route 9 North in Cape May Court House, was charged with second-degree charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess drugs.

Search warrants were executed at:

119 E. Lincoln Ave.
205 East Cresse Ave., Apts. 26, 27, 28 & Managers Quarters
119 W. Roberts Ave., Apt. 24
4701 Park Boulevard
3801 Pacific Ave., Apt. 3
3716 Arctic Ave.
37 Greenwood Ave.
717 Hughes Ave., North Cape May
4 Amberjack Road, Cape May Court House

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-465-1135 or anonymously through the Cape May County Sheriff’s Tip Line at cmcsheriff.net, or through the Cape May County Crime-Stoppers at 609-465-2800 or 877-465-2801.

Sergio Bichao is deputy digital editor at New Jersey 101.5. Send him news tips: Call 609-438-1015 or email sergio.bichao@townsquaremedia.com.

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