By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Atlantic County announced that on Tuesday, April 23, Matthew Lynch, 33, of Galloway Township, pleaded guilty before the Honorable Donna M. Taylor, J.S.C., to second-degree possession with the intent to distribute heroin/fentanyl.
Officials stated the recommended sentence under the terms of the agreement is eight years in New Jersey State Prison.
This case resulted from a narcotics investigation into the drug distribution activities of Lynch that was conducted by detectives from the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Gangs, Guns, and Narcotics Unit (GGN) and New Jersey State Police, officials said.
According to officials, on June 21, 2022, law enforcement executed two search warrants.
Officials say police arrested Lynch and found him to be in possession of digital scales, which are commonly utilized to weigh narcotics for sale at street level, and $1482.00 in US currency, which is believed to be derived from criminal activity.
During this investigation, officials said, detectives received information that Lynch was supplying a residence in Atlantic City with heroin/fentanyl, methamphetamine, and fentanyl pills to be distributed on his behalf.
During the months of May and June 2022, Matthew Lynch sold narcotics for profit at various locations within Atlantic County, according to officials.
Authorities say the total quantity of heroin/fentanyl Lynch sold exceeded one-half ounce.
The total quantity of methamphetamine Matthew Lynch sold also exceeded one-half ounce, officials stated.
Officials say Lynch also pled guilty to possession of a controlled dangerous substance, namely heroin, as a result of a Galloway Police Department investigation, which led to the search of Lynch being in possession of 52 wax folds of heroin on November 30, 2022.