By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Ocean County announced that on September 9, Clifford Holland, 48, of Barnegat, pled guilty to Possession of Less than One Half an Ounce of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute and Unlawful Possession of a Handgun – having previously been convicted of an offense subject to the No Early Release Act (NERA), before the Honorable Dina M. Vicari, J.S.C.
Officials stated in connection with a February 23, 2024, incident in Barnegat.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said that at the time of his sentencing on October 25, the State will be seeking a term of three years in New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) for the narcotics charge and 12 years NJSP—with a six-year period of parole ineligibility—for the weapon offense.
The sentences are to run concurrently, officials say.
According to officials, on February 23, Detectives from the Barnegat Township Police Department Crime Reduction Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Stafford Township Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit, and Ocean County Regional SWAT Team executed a court-authorized search warrant at a residence on Gunning River Road in furtherance of a narcotics investigation.
As a result, Detectives seized a quantity of Cocaine along with a .22 caliber revolver, officials said.
Authorities say Holland was taken into custody at the scene without incident and was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he has been lodged since that date.