By: Richard L. Smith
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced the sentencing of Pedro Reyes-Sevilla, 32, of Kenilworth, to a decade in New Jersey State Prison.
This sentencing comes after Reyes-Sevilla’s guilty plea to possession of five ounces or more of cocaine with intent to distribute.
The plea was entered before the Honorable Guy P. Ryan, P.J.Cr.P., on February 16, 2024, with the sentencing taking place on April 19, 2024.
The charges stem from a two-week investigation in January 2021 involving multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, the DEA - High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas-Monmouth/Ocean Post of Duty (HIDTA/MOPOD) Group 5, the Union County Prosecutor’s Office Street Crimes Unit, and the Lakewood Township Police Department Street Crimes Unit.
These efforts revealed Reyes-Sevilla’s involvement in distributing cocaine within Ocean County.
On January 27, 2021, after being under surveillance, Reyes-Sevilla was stopped by detectives in Lakewood following observations of suspicious activity in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
He consented to a vehicle search, leading to the recovery of over one kilogram of cocaine.
Reyes-Sevilla was initially taken to the Ocean County Jail and later released due to New Jersey Bail Reform, only to be arrested again in December 2022 in Union County on unrelated charges.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledged the contributions of Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Burke, who managed the case and praised the coordinated efforts of the involved law enforcement units.
This collaborative approach played a crucial role in securing the guilty plea and subsequent sentencing of Reyes-Sevilla.