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Manchester Man Sentenced for Drug Distribution

Manchester Township

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on Friday, January 10, 2020, Darnell Williams, 35, of Manchester, was sentenced to twelve years New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) by the Honorable Rochelle Gizinski, J.S.C., as a result to a guilty plea to Possession of Cocaine in an Amount Greater than Five Ounces with Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(1). In sentencing Williams, Judge Gizinski imposed a six year period of parole ineligibility.

Officials say Williams pled guilty to this charge on November 15, 2019.

According to officials, on March 18, 2019, Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force along with members of the Manchester Township Police Department executed at a motor vehicle stop in the area of Route 571 and Route 70 in Manchester.

Simultaneously, Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force Detectives and members of the Ocean County Regional SWAT Team, along with officers from the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Unit and the Manchester Police Department, executed a no-knock search warrant at a Manchester residence.

As a result of both the motor vehicle stop and search warrant execution, law enforcement seized significant amounts of cocaine and heroin and approximately $5400 in cash.

Additionally, Judge Gizinski sentenced Williams on the following unrelated matters: Theft by Deception in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-4 and Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:21-6h, for which Williams was sentenced to three years NJSP; Distribution of Cocaine in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(3), for which Williams was sentenced to three years NJSP; and Operating a Motor Vehicle During a Period of License Suspension for a Second or Subsequent DUI in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:40-26b, for which Williams was sentenced to eighteen months NJSP. All sentences will run concurrently.

Prosecutor Billhimer would like to acknowledge the diligence and hard work of Assistant Prosecutors Stephen Burke, Kaitlyn Burke and Ashley Angelo who prosecuted the cases on behalf of the State.

Prosecutor Billhimer likewise extends his gratitude to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Ocean County Regional SWAT Team, Manchester Township Police Department Patrol Division, Manchester Police Department Narcotics Enforcement Team, Manchester Township Police Department K-9 Unit, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit for their collaborative efforts leading to a lengthy state prison sentence for Williams.

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