By: Richard L. Smith
A 49-year-old man from China has pleaded guilty to operating an illegal marijuana cultivation operation inside an Atlantic County residence, according to authorities.
Hui Chen, identified as a resident of the People’s Republic of China, entered a guilty plea on March 31, 2025, to charges related to maintaining a controlled dangerous substance production facility and conspiracy to distribute drugs.
Prosecutors said the investigation centered on a home located on Fursin Avenue in Buena Vista, where Chen admitted to running an indoor marijuana grow operation.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant at the property on January 30, 2025, and discovered a large-scale setup that included 728 marijuana plants.
Officials said the residence had been specifically used to cultivate marijuana indoors as part of a broader distribution scheme.
As part of a plea agreement, the state will recommend a six-year sentence in New Jersey State Prison. Chen has been held at the Atlantic County Justice Facility since February 24, 2025, and is expected to remain in custody until sentencing.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 11, 2026, before Judge Donna M. Taylor in Atlantic County Superior Court.