Atlantic City Man Pleads Guilty In Connection With Ocean County Heroin Death

An 23-year-old Atlantic City man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and distribution of heroin in connection with the April 19, 2013 drug-induced death of an Ocean County man, Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato announced Tuesday.

Rasan S. McGee's sentencing is tentatively scheduled for July 25.  At the time of his sentencing, the state will be seeking 7 years NERA (No Early Release Act) for manslaughter and four years concurrent for the heroin distribution charge.

McGee’s charges stem from an investigation that began on April 19, 2013 with the death of Steven Janson, 26, of Barnegat.

On that date, at 2:15pm Barnegat Police responded to the Starboard Avenue area of Barnegat, in reference to an unresponsive male inside a car. Upon their arrival, a man later identified as Janson was found dead inside his red Hyundai Genesis parked across the street from 26 Starboard Ave. 

A search of the car produced 4 bags used for heroin.

Coronato said McGee’s guilty plea "strengthens our resolve in holding defendants responsible for the dire results of their criminal actions."

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office will continue to charge those who cause death by callously supplying deadly narcotics to those stricken by drug addiction.  By now our message should be ringing loud and clear throughout New Jersey that my office will be relentless in tracking down and prosecuting dealers who choose to profit by ignoring the tragic consequences of their actions.”    

The investigation found that the victim had drove to Atlantic City on Thursday, April 18 and bought heroin from an unidentified male.

With this added information detectives from the Atlantic City Violent Crimes Task Force, comprised of members the Division of Criminal Justice, New Jersey State Police, Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, Atlantic County Sheriff’s Department, Atlantic City Police Department, New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, New Jersey Department of Parole, along with help from the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit, the Special Operations Group, the High Tech Crimes Unit and members of the Barnegat Police Department set up a cooperative undercover operation to arrest those who may have dealt heroin to the victim.

The operation resulted in McGee, also known as "Money,” being charged in the Strict Liability case.  Detectives recovered 50 bags of heroin stamped “STINGRAY” from McGee and additional investigative evidence that would connect McGee to Steven Janson’s overdose death.  He was indicted in June of 2013.

The indictment against McGee presented that on or about April 19, 2013, in the City of Atlantic City, Atlantic County and in the Township of Barnegat, Ocean County, Rasan S. McGee did manufacture, distribute or dispense Heroin, a schedule I drug, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5, to Steven Janson, who then injected, inhaled or ingested said Heroin, and whose subsequent death resulted from the injection, inhalation or ingestion of said substance, contrary to the provision of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-9.  It states further during that within that same time and location, McGee did commit manslaughter by recklessly causing the death of Steven Janson, contrary to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-4b.

The following are the complete list of charges in the McGee indictment: First Degree Drug Induced Death, Second Degree Manslaughter, Two Counts Third Degree Possession of CDS, Two Counts Third Degree Possession with Intent to Distribute CDS, Third Degree Distribution of CDS, and Forth Degree Resisting Arrest.

The case is being prosecuted by Ocean County Senior Assistant Prosecutor Michael R. Weatherstone.  McGee is currently lodged in the Ocean County jail on $250,000 cash bail.  See attached photo of McGee on next page: