Long Branch Restaurant Owner Convicted On 91 Counts Of Drugs And Weapons Sales

A Monmouth County jury today convicted the owner of Christabell’s American Soul Food Restaurant on 91 counts involving the sale of drugs and weapons, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said.

Anthony “Nygee” Stevenson, 47, Long Branch, was convicted after a two-month trial before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge John T. Mullaney, Jr.

Of the 91 counts, 77 counts were related to the undercover sales of heroin, Gramiccioni said.

Stevenson was also convicted of second degree distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, two counts of second degree possession with intent to distribute and two counts of second degree conspiracy to distribute (one for heroin and one for cocaine) and two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon (assault rifles), two counts of unlawful sale of a weapon (assault rifles), and two counts of possession and sale of large capacity magazines, he said.

Stevenson faces up to 10 years in a New Jersey state prison on each of the second degree offenses when he returns for sentencing before Judge John Mullaney on July 29.

The case is part of an investigation dubbed “Operation Grand Opening,” where Stevenson sold drugs and guns to undercover investigators, mostly out of the restaurant he was renovating at 530 Springdale Avenue in Long Branch. Detectives intercepted over 9,000 calls from county and local law enforcement agencies that culminated with the arrest of over 40 people in August 2011.

Stevenson sold heroin to an undercover officer on 22 occasions - about 1,900 bags - either directly or through the use of the delivery man at his restaurant, who also delivered heroin. One of the lower level dealers Stevenson sold to re-distributed the heroin to another undercover detective, Gramiccioni said.

On the day Stevenson was arrested, he and another co-defendant were in possession of 2,500 bags of heroin. Stevenson also sold two assault rifles, both with large capacity magazines, to an undercover detective for $3,000.