Sentence Falls Under New Jersey’s No Early Release Act, Requiring 85 Percent Parole Ineligibility
Thursday, February 19, 2026, 9:40 A.M. ET. 3 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
HAZLET, NJ.- A former Brooklyn, New York man has been sentenced to 30 years in New Jersey State Prison for a fatal shooting that occurred in Hazlet in 2024, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced Thursday.
Gaetano S. Scannavino, 26, whose last known address was in Brooklyn, was sentenced Wednesday before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Henry P. Butehorn. The sentence is subject to the provisions of New Jersey’s No Early Release Act (NERA), which mandates that defendants convicted of certain violent crimes must serve at least 85 percent of their sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
Scannavino previously pleaded guilty on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, to a single count of first-degree aggravated manslaughter, resolving the case stemming from the fatal shooting of a Monmouth County man earlier that year.
According to authorities, the deadly incident occurred on Saturday, September 14, 2024, at approximately 7:18 a.m., when officers from the Hazlet Police Department responded to a reported emergency medical services call in the parking lot of 270 Route 36 in Hazlet. Upon arrival, responding officers discovered an adult male lying deceased on the ground near a dumpster.
Investigators determined the victim had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Despite emergency response efforts, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim was later identified as Anthony Hill, 42, of Eatontown, New Jersey.
A joint investigation conducted by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Hazlet Police Department led authorities to identify Scannavino as the suspect in the fatal shooting. Law enforcement officials did not disclose a motive for the crime in court records or public statements.
Following the investigation, Scannavino was located and arrested in Brooklyn on Thursday, September 19, 2024. The arrest was carried out by members of the New York City Police Department 61st and 62nd Precincts, working in coordination with New Jersey authorities.
The prosecution of the case was handled by Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Cummings, Director of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics and Criminal Enterprise Investigation Section, along with Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Ammon of the Office’s Trial Division. Scannavino was represented by defense attorney Meghan J. Decker, Esq., whose law office is based in Long Branch.
Under the terms of the 30-year sentence imposed, Scannavino will be required to serve a minimum of approximately 25½ years in prison before becoming eligible for parole consideration, pursuant to New Jersey law.
Prosecutor Santiago credited the coordinated efforts of local and out-of-state law enforcement agencies in bringing the case to a resolution, noting that the sentence reflects the severity of the crime and the lasting impact on the victim’s family and the broader community.
Editor’s Note:
This article was written by Art Fletcher, Executive Editor, and all facts, dates, charges, and procedural details contained in this report were provided by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and corroborated through court records and law enforcement statements. As with all Englebrook Independent News reporting, this article was based on fact-based reporting.
