Toms River Man Pleads Guilty To Cocaine Distribution

Toms River NJ

22 October, 2020

7:23 PM

Description

TRENTON, NJ – An alleged crime family associate pleaded guilty Thursday to possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said. Jason Vella, 39, of Toms River, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Anne E. Thompson in Trenton federal court to one count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, Carpenito's office said. Vella was arrested Sept. 19, 2019, after investigators from the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office executing a search warrant seized more than 150 grams of cocaine, plus drug paraphernalia, $2,295 in cash and pieces of jewelry, he said. Vella faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine and sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 26, 2021. Carpenito credited the members of the FBI's Organized Crime Task Force and the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office with the investigation leading to the guilty plea. Click here to get Patch email notifications, or get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our app. Download here. Have a news tip? Email [email protected] Follow Toms River Patch on Facebook.