Crime & Safety

6-Year Sentence For Toms River Man Who Sold Heroin

Xavier Nelson pleaded guilty to heroin and fentanyl charges in September.

Xavier Nelson of Toms River pleaded guilty to heroin and fentanyl charges in September.
Xavier Nelson of Toms River pleaded guilty to heroin and fentanyl charges in September. (Via Ocean County Prosecutor's Office)

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Toms River man has been sentenced to six years in prison on heroin and fentanyl charges, the Ocean County prosecutor's office announced.

Xavier Nelson, 29, of Toms River, was sentenced on Oct. 25 by Superior Court Judge Guy P. Ryan to six years in prison with three years of parole ineligibility for distribution of heroin, and a concurrent three-year term for conspiracy to possess heroin and fentanyl with intent to distribute, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

Nelson pled guilty to the charges before Ryan on Sept. 13. He was arrested Dec. 19, 2018, following an investigation that spanned several months, as authorities executed search warrants at three residences in Toms River and Lakewood.

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About 250 wax folds of heroin were seized, along with unspecified amounts of cocaine and marijuana. Evidence indicated Nelson had planned to sell the narcotics.

Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Burke and Supervising Assistant Prosecutor William Porter handled the case. The investigation was conducted by members of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Asset Forfeiture Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Unit, Ocean County Regional SWAT Team, Toms River Police Department Special Enforcement Team, Toms River Police Department Emergency Services Unit, Lakewood Police Department, Lakewood Police Department Street Crimes Unit, Lakewood Police Department Special Response Team, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit.

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