Atlantic City Man Headed To State Prison For Causing Barnegat Heroin Death

A convicted drug dealer will be doing time in state prison for his role in providing heroin to a Barnegat man found dead in his car last  year, Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato said.

Rasan S. McGee, aka "Money," pleaded guilty to manslaughter and distribution of heroin in the drug-induced death of Steven Janson, 26. McGee was sentenced today to six years NERA (No Early Release Act) for anslaughter, four years concurrent for the heroin distribution charge and four years concurrent on an Atlantic County violation of Probation, the prosecutor said.  

 “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," Coronato said. "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.”    

McGee’s case stemmed from an investigation that began on April 19, 2013 with Janson's death. Barnegat police responded to the Starboard Avenue area of Barnegat, in reference to an unresponsive male inside a car. They found Janson  dead inside his red Hyundai Genesis parked across the street from a Starboard Avenue address.

A search of his car produced four bags used for heroin.  The investigation found that Janson drove to Atlantic City on April 18 and bought heroin from an unidentified male.

The 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 sold heroin to Janson.

The operation resulted in McGee 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.  McGee was indicted in June of 2013.