Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on February 14, 2020, Carlos Sanchez, 40, of Brick Township, pled guilty to Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(2) before the Honorable Rochelle Gizinski, J.S.C. At the time of sentencing on June 19, 2020, the State will be recommending that Sanchez be sentenced to nine years New Jersey State Prison with a fifty-four month period of parole ineligibility.

An investigation into narcotics distribution in the Brick Township area was conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force and United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) over the course of several weeks in early 2016. Based upon this investigation, a search warrant was obtained for a residence in Brick occupied by Sanchez. On February 4, 2016, members of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, DEA Regional SWAT Team, and Brick Township Police Department executed the search warrant at Sanchez’ residence. As a consequence, law enforcement were able to locate and seize approximately 133 grams of Cocaine, nearly 200 grams of Butylone, a quantity of Oxycodone pills, a small amount of Marijuana, and approximately $32,000 in cash. Sanchez was arrested and charged accordingly.

Prosecutor Billhimer would like to acknowledge the fine work of Supervising Assistant Prosecutor William Porter and Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Burke who handled the case on behalf of the State, as well as the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, United States DEA, United States DEA Regional SWAT Team, Brick Township Police Department, Jackson Township Police Department, South Toms River Police Department, Toms River Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit for their cooperative assistance in this investigation which ultimately brought about Sanchez’ guilty plea.