Cocaine Bust Leads to Multiple Indictments

A Monmouth County Grand Jury has indicted five men arrested during a Red Bank drug bust in May on 10 counts, finding enough evidence to prosecute the suspects on allegations of intent to distribute cocaine.

Charles Johnson, 23, Charles Wilson, 25, Chantal Tharrington, 21, David Hutchinson, 25, and Kareem Smith, 23, were arrested on May 16 and charged with numerous offenses related to a raid conducted by the Red Bank Police Department on a Spring Street apartment.

On Wednesday, a grand jury indicted the five suspects on 10 separate counts related to the arrest, including possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, possession of a controlled dangerous substance within 1,000 feet of a school with intent to distribute, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a firearm in the course of committing a drug offense, and resisting arrest.

Additionally, Johnson, Wilson, Smith, and Hutchinson were indicted for certain persons not to have weapons because of previous convictions. 

According to police, the drug raid yielded half an ounce of cocaine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia used in the distribution of narcotics, $8,000 in cash, and a loaded handgun.