OCEAN COUNTY — A Toms River man is facing multiple drug and financial charges after authorities say he operated an illegal marijuana distribution network through vending machines placed in unlicensed businesses across New Jersey. Three others were also arrested.
Ben Gross, 40, was arrested April 17 following a more than two-year investigation led by prosecutors in Ocean and Monmouth counties and supported by a coalition of federal, state and local agencies.
Investigators allege Gross owned a company that installed vending machines dispensing cannabis products at locations not authorized to sell marijuana. Recreational cannabis is legal for adults in New Jersey, but retail sales are restricted to licensed operators.
Detectives conducted surveillance before stopping Gross in a vehicle and taking him into custody without incident, authorities said. Search warrants executed at multiple properties — including homes in Toms River, Lakewood and Jackson, as well as a warehouse in Manchester Township — led to the seizure of more than 100 pounds of marijuana, about five pounds of hashish, and large quantities of THC-infused candy and vaping products.
At the Manchester warehouse, three additional suspects — Delma Canales-Garcia, 50, and Susana Garcia-Canales, 42, both of Lakewood, and Carlos Sanchez-Castillo, 22, of Toms River — were also arrested.
Authorities said coordinated teams simultaneously executed search warrants at more than 80 businesses across the state believed to be hosting the vending machines. In total, 80 machines were confiscated.
Gross is charged with offenses including maintaining a drug production facility, possession with intent to distribute large quantities of marijuana and hashish, conspiracy and financial facilitation. The three co-defendants face similar distribution and conspiracy charges. All four were lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending detention hearings.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said the case underscores enforcement efforts against unlicensed cannabis sales, noting that while marijuana possession is legal under certain conditions, unauthorized distribution remains a crime.
Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago said the investigation should serve as a warning to those attempting to bypass state regulations, emphasizing the importance of consumer safety and oversight in the legal cannabis market.
Authorities stressed that the charges are accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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