Brick Man Pleads Guilty To Marijuana Distribution, Weapons Charge

BRICK, NJ — A Brick Township man has pleaded guilty to marijuana distribution in connection with a 2018 narcotics investigation, the Ocean County prosecutor's office announced Wednesday.

Jahmal Jones, 34, of Brick, pleaded guilty Tuesday before Superior Court Judge Rochelle Gizinski to one count of possession of more than an ounce of marijuana with intent to distribute, and one count of being a certain person not to possess a firearm, First Assistant Prosecutor Michael T. Nolan Jr. said.

In exchange for the guilty plea, prosecutors will be seeking a seven year prison sentence with 3-1/2 years of parole ineligibility on the narcotics charge and five years in prison without parole on the firearms charge. The sentences are to run concurrently, Nolan said. A sentencing date has not been set.

Jones was arrested Aug. 28, 2018, following a two-month investigation into narcotics distribution in the area by the prosecutor's office Narcotics Strike Force. Searches of his home and vehicle led to the seizure of a significant amount of marijuana, drug paraphernalia indicative of distribution, $3,800 in cash, and a Smith & Wesson .38 caliber handgun, authorities said.

At Tuesday's hearing, Jones also pleaded guilty on two unrelated charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, resulting from two separate arrests in January 2019, one in Barnegat and one in Lakewood. The recommended sentence will be three years on each of those charges, to run concurrently with the other sentences.

Nolan thanked Senior Assistant Prosecutor Jamie Schron and Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Burke, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Brick Township Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit, Barnegat Township Police Department Crime Reduction Unit, and Lakewood Township Police Department Street Crimes Unit for their efforts.

Click here to get Patch email notifications, or get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our app. Download here. Have a news tip? Email karen.wall@patch.com Follow Brick Patch on Facebook.