Man Admits To Cocaine Distribution In Barnegat

BARNEGAT, NJ — A Barnegat man admitted to distributing cocaine and unlawfully possessing a gun, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.

Clifford Holland, 48, pleaded guilty to possession of less than one half ounce of cocaine with intent to distribute and unlawful possession of a handgun in connection with a Feb. 23, 2024 incident in Barnegat, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

On that day, detectives from Barnegat, Stafford, the Prosecutor's Office and Ocean County SWAT Team executed a court-authorized search warrant on a Gunning River Road home, Billhimer said.

There, detectives seized "a quantity" of cocaine and a .22 caliber revolver, Billhimer said. Holland was taken into custody and lodged at Ocean County Jail, where he has been since that date, Billhimer said.

Holland is set to be sentenced on Oct. 25. At that time, the state will seek a sentence of three years in New Jersey State Prison as to the narcotics charge and 12 years with a six-year period of parole ineligibility as to the weapons charge. These sentences are to run concurrently.