The father of a Boston Red Sox draft pick has been arrested and charged with distributing cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and guns, according to The Asbury Park Press.
The Press reported Wednesday that Jason Groome, 43, was arrested two days before alongside Anthony Brandt, 53, and Daniel Wunder, 61.
Jason Groome is reportedly the father of Jason “Jay” Groome, 18, who was drafted by the Red Sox onto the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise’s minor league team last year.
Jay Groome was purportedly a first-round pick for Boston, which selected him in June 2016 straight out of Barnegat High School in Barnegat, NJ.
The pitcher signed for a $3.65 million bonus in July 2016 and now plays for the Class-A Greenville Drive team in the Red Sox’s farm system.
Some Twitter users on Wednesday wondered what impact his father’s arrest would have on Jay Groome’s baseball career.
@keithlaw With the arrest of Jay Groome's dad, are you allowed to speak on the pre-draft concerns? Was it more about family than him?
— Randy Scott (@rtexscott) July 12, 2017
No wonder there were character concerns about Jay Groome https://t.co/g4x5zMLaZ8
— Alex Goldberg (@AlexGoldberg_) July 12, 2017
UPDATED: Father of Boston Red Sox prospect Barnegat's Jay Groome charged with heroin, firearms https://t.co/UbiXErCKfh via @thepressofac
— Michael McGarry (@ACPressMcGarry) July 12, 2017
The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement Wednesday that Jason Groome, Brandt and Wunder were arrested after a three-month long investigation.
Police reportedly seized two ounces of cocaine, guns, heroin, marijuana and hundreds of oxycodone pills.
Al Della Fave, a spokesman for the prosecutor’s office, said the probe has not produced any evidence any other member of the Groome family was involved in alleged criminal activities.
Authorities purportedly stopped Jason Groome on Monday while he was driving his 2010 Dodge Ram at the Gunning River Mall in Barnegat, NJ.
Police reportedly seized two ounces of cocaine and a defaced 9mm handgun from the vehicle following the stop on West Bay Avenue there.
