Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp announces that on May 30th defendant Christian Mojica entered a guilty plea before the Honorable Catherine I. Enright, J.S.C. to first-degree unlawful possession of a weapon and second-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute.
Officials said on May 31st, co-defendant Naeem White entered a guilty plea before the Honorable Catherine I. Enright, J.S.C. to two counts of first-degree unlawful possession of a weapon and second-degree distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. The weapons charges—normally second degree offenses, are elevated to first degree offenses by virtue of the defendants’ prior robbery convictions.
The investigation culminated in the seizure of two handguns, thirty-five rounds of ammunition, over one half ounce of cocaine, over six pounds of marijuana, drug distribution related paraphernalia and the profits of criminal activity in excess of $14,000 United States currency.
Assistant Prosecutor Erin Callahan represented the State at the plea hearings. Mojica faces a 10- year sentence with 42 months of parole ineligibility on the gun charge and a concurrent 6-year period of incarceration on the drug charge. Both of these charges will run concurrently to the 5-year period of incarceration he is expected to receive pursuant to the No Early Release Act when he is terminated from Drug Court and re-sentenced on a second-degree robbery conviction. White faces 11 years in prison with 48 months of parole ineligibility on both the gun charges.
These sentences will run concurrent to a 6-year term of incarceration on the drug charge. All three charges will run concurrently to the 5-year period of incarceration White is expected to receive pursuant to the No Early Release Act when he is terminated from Drug Court and re-sentenced on a second- degree robbery conviction.
The sentencing date for both Mojica and White is June 22nd.