Cops: Seaside Heights Men Tried Exchanging Firearms for Drugs in Park

Michael Daluesio, 43, of Seaside Heights, and Nathan Miller, 31, of Seaside Heights. (Credit: Ocean County Jail)

Authorities in Ocean County have accused two Seaside Heights men of weapons possession and distribution after they allegedly attempted to hatch a deal in which they would exchange firearms for drugs.

Michael Daluesio, 43, of Seaside Heights, and Nathan Miller, 31, also of Seaside Heights, were the targets of an investigation into firearms distribution by the county prosecutor’s office’s Narcotics Strike Force. Both were arrested and taken to the Ocean County Jail.

According to a statement from prosecutors, Daluesio was in possession of a handgun and Miller was a passenger in the vehicle in which they were both traveling. Detectives on Oct. 27 conducted surveillance on Daluesio as he was operating a rented vehicle in Lakewood while Miller was the passenger. The detectives continued their surveillance as Daluesio traveled to an undisclosed public park, where they observed him exit the vehicle and enter a portable toilet. Officers then detained Miller – who had moved into the driver’s seat of the vehicle – without incident.

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Daluesio was placed under arrest as he exited the portable toilet. Detectives immediately searched the portable toilet and located a 9mm handgun as well as loose ammunition in a paper bag, prosecutors said in a statement. Further investigation revealed that the handgun was reported stolen out of Montgomery, Alabama. A deeper investigation revealed that a second handgun was being stored in a storage unit in Toms River utilized by Miller, the statement said. Detectives executed a court-authorized search warrant on the storage unit, as well as Daluesio’s vehicle on October 27, 2025 and, as a result, allegedly located drug paraphernalia and a .380 caliber handgun that was reported stolen out of Mobile, Alabama.

Daluesio was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm, being a certain person not to possess a firearm, possession of drug paraphernalia, and wandering to obtain or distribute a controlled dangerous substance. Daluesio was transported to the Ocean County Jail where he is presently lodged pending a detention hearing.

Miller was charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, two counts of possession of a stolen firearm, possession of drug paraphernalia, and wandering to obtain or distribute a controlled dangerous substance.. Miller was transported to the Ocean County Jail where he is presently lodged pending a detention hearing.