A Neptune man is charged with selling drugs that led to the overdose death of a Long Branch resident back in May, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
In a statement released by authorities, police charged Jomell Brathwaite, 36, of Neptune, with first-degree Strict Liability for Drug Induced Deaths and third-degree Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance in connection with the sale of a heroin and fentanyl concoction that led to the overdose death of a 49-year old female from Long Branch.
Police say Brathwaite was already being lodged in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution on other charges not pertaining to this incident. His first appearance is scheduled for this afternoon in Superior Court in Freehold.
Brathwaite’s victim was found by her boyfriend deceased on the morning of May 15, 2018.
An investigation was launched into the death of the victim by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Long Branch Police Department. The investigation determined that Brathwaite had sold the lethal substance during the evening of May 14, 2018, at a local business located in Ocean Township according to authorities.
If convicted of first-degree Strict Liability for Drug Induced Deaths, Brathwaite faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in a New Jersey state prison without parole, subject to the provisions of the “No Early Release Act” (NERA) requiring him to serve 85 percent of the sentence imposed before becoming eligible for release.
The crime of third-degree Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance crime carries a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment.
The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Competello.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.