Trenton man gets 10 years in prison for cocaine distribution
A Trenton man was sentenced yesterday to ten (10) years in federal prison for his role in a cocaine distribution ring. He was the middleman in a drug distribution scheme which sold large quantities of cocaine in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. As part of his plea agreement, he was also ordered to forfeit $270,000 of drug money to the government. For additional info, please see "Cocaine Distribution Charges for Trenton Man".
His guilty plea was actually to charges for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and to a weapons charge. In New Jersey, charges for cocaine distribution are governed by N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5, which provides for different penalties for cocaine charges depending on the weight of the drug in the defendant's possession. If you are in possession of five (5) ounces or more of cocaine, this is a first degree crime in New Jersey which provides for ten (10) to twenty (20) years in prison if convicted. If you are caught with less than five ounces but more than one-half ounce of cocaine, you will be charged with second degree cocaine possession with intent to distrbute which includes five (5) to ten (10) years in prison. If you are apprehended with less than one-half ounce of cocaine in your possession, you may be charged with third degree cocaine possession with intent to distribute. Third degree offenses in New Jersey generally include one (1) to five (5) years in prison.
