Three Members of Tinton Falls Family Arrested in Marijuana and Weapons Bust

Three members of a Tinton Falls family were arrested on Monday following a two-month investigation by law enforcement officials into another family member that lives in Neptune Township, which yielded over 150 pounds of marijuana and thousands of rounds of ammunition.

Taj Thomas, 20, along with his parents Pierre Thomas, 58, and Illma thomas, 53, all of Tinton Falls, were arrested on Monday following a search of their Cheyenne Street home where officers seized three pounds of marijuana, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and other narcotics paraphernalia, according to a release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.

The arrests follow an investigation by the prosecutor's office Gang Task Force into Neptune Township resident Khalid A. Thomas, 29, who is a brother of Taj Thomas. Officers searched his Wayside Road residence on May 24 and seized dozens of one-pound plastic bags containing quantities of marijuana, two 9-millimeter handguns, two bullet-proof vests, one .223 caliber assault rifle and numerous boxes of ammunition for a 7.62 caliber assault rifle that has yet to be seized, according to the release.

The marijuana seized in the investigation has a total estimated street value of more than $1.5 million.

Khalid A. Thomas was charged with first degree possession of marijuana with an  intent to distribute, which carries a maximum statuatory penalty of 20 years in prison. He is being held on $250,000 bail at the Monmouth County Correctional Institute.

The three other Thomas family members were charged with third degree possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Taj and Pierre Thomas are both being held at the Monmouth county Correctional Institute on $20,000 bail. Illma B. Thomas was released on her own recognizance.

The prosecutor's office credited the Monmouth County Sheriff's Department K-9 narcotic and bomb sniffing units, the Tinton Falls Police Department and the Neptune Township Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.