Angel Perez, 39, of South Toms River, has pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to distribute in connection with a 2023 incident in Toms River, Ocean County Prosecutor Brad Billhimer announced.
The guilty plea was entered before Judge Kenneth T. Palmer in Ocean County Superior Court. At the time of sentencing, scheduled for July 11, the State will recommend a prison term of seven years in New Jersey State Prison.
The charges stem from a September 27, 2023 investigation by the Toms River Township Police Department’s Special Enforcement Team into suspected drug activity in the area of the Presidential Apartments. According to authorities, detectives observed two vehicles parked next to each other and witnessed a woman leave her vehicle and enter the passenger side of a second vehicle operated by Perez.
Detectives approached the vehicle and removed both occupants. Upon Perez exiting the vehicle, officers reportedly observed cocaine in plain view on the driver’s side floorboard. Perez was immediately arrested and charged with possession of more than one-half ounce of cocaine with intent to distribute, among other drug-related offenses.
A court-authorized search warrant executed the following day on Perez’s vehicle led to the seizure of additional quantities of cocaine, oxycodone, suboxone, hashish, and drug paraphernalia. Additional charges were filed as a result. Perez was initially held at the Ocean County Jail but was released on October 10, 2023, under New Jersey’s bail reform guidelines.
No sentencing enhancements or co-defendant information were disclosed in the announcement.