Suspected Bloods Heroin Trafficker Indicted For Asbury Park Murder

The suspected ring leader of a massive heroin trafficking operation in Monmouth County heads to trial for the fatal 2012 shooting of an Asbury Park man.  A Monmouth County Grand Jury indicted Ronald T. Daniels, Jr., 24 Monday who lists residents in Highlands and Long Branch.

The seven-count indictment charges Daniels with first degree Murder, second degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, second degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, third degree Receiving Stolen Property and fourth degree Possession of Hollow Nose Bullets. He's being held in the Monmouth County Correctional Facility in Freehold Township on $2 million cash only bail.

According to a press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, Police took Daniels into custody shortly after the shooting of 30-year-old Jerome Wright near the Asbury Park Village housing complex at the intersection of Atkins Avenue and Heck Avenue on September 1st after 10 p.m.

The Prosecutor's Office says during an investigation, Neptune Township Police officers approached a group of individuals on Monroe Avenue and recovered two handguns. The handgun recovered from Daniels proved to be the murder weapon, while a second weapon was recovered from Shamere Reid, 20, of Neptune.

Reid is charged in a two-count indictment with second degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon and fourth degree Possession of a Defaced Firearm. Reid is being held at the Monmouth County Correctional Facility on $50,000 bail.

If convicted of Murder, Daniels faces a minimum sentence of 30 years in a New Jersey State Prison without parole and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, subject to the provisions of the "No Early Release Act."  He also faces five to ten years in prison for Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, three to five years in prison for receiving stolen property and 18 months in prison for possession of Hollow Nose Bullets if convicted.

According to previous Reports, Daniels is Listed as the ring leaders in a heroin trafficking operation that ran out of Monmouth and Ocean Counties by the notorious Fruit Town Brims set of the Bloods street gang.  A Monmouth county Grand Jury handed up a 98-count indictment against Daniels and 40 other suspects.