By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Atlantic County announced that on Wednesday, May 14, Derrick Mallory, 29, of Atlantic Citywas sentenced to three years in New Jersey State Prison by the Honorable Jeffrey Waldman, J.S.C., following previous guilty pleas for third-degree possession with the intent to distribute narcotics and third-degree possession of narcotics involving three separate cases. 
Atlantic County officials said that on December 11, 2024, Mallory entered negotiated guilty pleas, recommending an aggregate sentence of four years in New Jersey State Prison.
He was released pending sentencing over the State’s objection with instructions from the Court that if he did not appear for sentencing, he could receive the maximum sentence of five years in prison per count (what is commonly called a no-show, no recommendation plea), according to ACPO officials.
He subsequently did not appear for his original sentencing date but turned himself in about a month later, Atlantic County authorities say. During yesterday’s sentencing, the State argued for a higher sentence than the four years of prison previously agreed upon in the plea, and the defendant argued for non-custodial probation.
After hearing arguments, the Court declined to invoke the no-show, no-recommendation clause. It sentenced the defendant to three years in prison, one year less than the original agreed-upon sentence, ACPO officials stated.
According to Atlantic County officials, on February 16, 2024, members of the Atlantic City Police Department were conducting surveillance in Atlantic City in the area of Kentucky and Atlantic Avenues. They observed Mallory distribute what they believed to be narcotics.
Police stopped Mallory and located cocaine on his person, Atlantic City Police said. On June 11, 2024, detectives of the Atlantic City Police Department arrested Mallory for an unrelated incident outside of 1738 Atlantic Avenue.
During a search of his person incident to arrest, he was found to have contraband, including oxycodone, without a valid prescription, ACPO authorities said.
Atlantic County officials said that on August 1, 2024, the Atlantic City Police Department conducted surveillance in Atlantic City in the area of 1700 Atlantic Avenue and observed Mallory distribute what they believed to be narcotics.
Mallory was stopped and found to have 100 wax folds of heroin, ACPO officials say.