Darnell Williams (Photo: Ocean County Jail)
A Manchester man has pleaded guilty to a charge of drug distribution after he was caught by police with quantities of cocaine, heroin, crack and cash on Route 70 in March.
According to a statement from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Darnell Williams, 35, of Manchester, pled guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to distribute in a quantity greater than five ounces. At the time of his sentencing on January 10, 2020, the State will be recommending a sentence of twelve years in New Jersey State Prison with a six-year period of parole ineligibility.
On March 18, 2019, authorities said, detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force along with members of the Manchester Township Police Department conducted at a traffic stop in the area of Route 571 and Route 70 in Manchester. Simultaneously, Ocean Prosecutor’s Office 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 approximately 260 grams of cocaine, approximately 400 individual doses of heroin and fentanyl, 20 grams of crack cocaine, and approximately $5,400 in cash.
As part of his plea agreement, Williams also pleaded guilty to unrelated charges including theft by deception, fraudulent use of a credit card, and traffic charges stemming from a prior DWI conviction. All sentences are to run concurrently.
