Long Branch Restaurant Owner Gets 50 Years In State Prison On Drug And Weapons Charges

A Long Branch man who was convicted back in May on 91 counts of selling drugs and guns from his Springdale Avenue restaurant was sentenced to 50 years in state prison recently, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said.

Anthony “Nygee” Stevenson must serve 26 years before he can be considered eligible for parole, according to the sentence handed down by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge John T. Mullaney Jr. Mullaney ordered the 91 counts be merged into eight counts for purpose of sentencing and the periods of incarceration run consecutively, Gramiccioni said.

Mullaney sentenced Stevenson to an extended term of 20 years in state prison with a 10-year period of parole ineligibility on the charge of second degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance (heroin) with intent to distribute, Gramiccioni said.

He also ordered the following counts run consecutive to each of the other counts from the May 15, 2015 conviction, which includes: ten years in state prison with a five-year prison of parole ineligibility for the conviction on second degree distribution of heroin; five years in state prison with a two-and-a-half-year period of parole ineligibility for third degree distribution of heroin; ten years in state prison with a five-year prison of parole ineligibility for the conviction on second degree conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance (cocaine) with intent to distribute; and an additional five years in state prison with a three-and-a-half-year period of parole ineligibility for third degree unlawful sale of an assault weapon, he said.

The conviction in May followed a two-month trial where the details related to undercover sales of heroin from Christabell’s American Soul Food Restaurant, on Springdale Avenue in Long Branch were revealed to the jury.

The case was 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. Surveillance began on the day of the grand opening.

During the course of the investigation over 9,000 calls were intercepted by detectives from county and local law enforcement agencies culminating with the arrest of over 40 people between August 1 and August 8, 2011.