North Carolina Woman Charged in Long Branch Drug and Gun Ring Bust

A North Carolina woman who was part of a made by the Long Branch Police and Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office has been arrested and charged.

Maria L. Borrero, 28, of Stanley, NC, was arrested and charged on Aug. 10 for possession of a handgun, transporting the gun into the state and possession of drugs.

Borrero was found with heroin and under 50 grams of marijuana in her car, according to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Jim Jones. Borrero also possessed a Cobra Patriot .380 caliber semi-automatic handgun at the time of her arrest. She did not have a permit to own or transport the handgun.

Jones said the vehicle was inspected as a result of legally-obtained search warrant.

Jones said Borrero is a friend of Amos Castro, 39, formerly of Long Branch who currently resides in South Carolina. Castro was arrested on Aug. 3 for allegedly selling a handgun to an undercover officer in suspected drug ring leader Anthony Stevenson’s restaurant, Christabell's American Soul Food Restaurant on Springdale Avenue, Long Branch.

Authorities are still searching for Steven Worsley, 38, of Beachwood, Patrick Norman, Sr., 54, of Tinton Falls, and Raymond Pridgen, 40, of Long Branch.

Worsley, Pridgen and Norman are all charged with second degree racketeering conspiracy for their parts in the drug and gun ring.

Norman is the father of Patrick Norman, Jr., 29, and Leon Norman, 26, both of Tinton Falls, who were arrested on Aug. 3, and charged with various possession and possession with intent type offenses, according to the prosecutor’s office.

Jones said anybody with information on the whereabouts of the subjects who are still at large should contact Captain Brian Rubino of the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office at 1 (800) 848-0668.