Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced today that Antonio Giudice, 54, of Forked River, was sentenced to seven years in New Jersey State Prison by the Honorable Guy P. Ryan, J.S.C., as a result of a plea of guilty to Possession with the Intent to Distribute More Than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Crystal Methamphetamine in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a; and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(9), on December 20, 2019. Giudice will be required to serve a forty-two month period of parole ineligibility.
The charges were the result of an investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force and the Toms River Township Police Department Emergency Services Unit.
The joint investigation revealed that Giudice was distributing Methamphetamine from a motel room in Toms River.
Officials say on July 29, 2019, Detectives executed a no-knock search warrant on the motel room and seized over one-half ounce of Crystal Methamphetamine, a stun gun disguised as a flashlight and approximately $3500 in cash.
A subsequent motor vehicle stop of a vehicle that Giudice was driving yielded yet another quantity of Crystal Methamphetamine.
Giudice was placed under arrest and transported to the Ocean County Jail.
Judge Ryan also sentenced Giudice to three years in New Jersey State Prison as a result to a separate plea of guilty to a charge of Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purposes in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4, both of the sentences are to be run concurrently.
On June 28, 2019, Giudice had a physical altercation with an individual at a local convenience store in Toms River.
Giudice struck the individual in the face with the stun gun and fled the area. Detectives were able to identify Giudice and the vehicle he was driving from video surveillance of the area.
Prosecutor Billhimer would like to acknowledge the fine work of Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Burke who handled the case on behalf of State. Likewise, Prosecutor Billhimer would like to thank the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Toms River Township Police Department and the Toms River Township Police Emergency Services Unit for their assistance in securing these guilty pleas.