Prosecutors Say Suspect Possessed Handgun & More Than Nine Grams Of Cocaine During August 2025 Arrest

Saturday, March 14, 2026, 9:00 A.M. ET. 3 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ.- An Atlantic City, New Jersey, man has admitted in court that he illegally possessed a handgun while carrying cocaine intended for distribution, according to authorities in Atlantic County.

     On Friday, March 13, 2026, Rashid Hamilton, 37, of Atlantic City, pleaded guilty before the Honorable Joseph Levin, J.S.C., in Atlantic County Superior Court to second-degree Unlawful Possession of a Handgun and third-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with Intent to Distribute.

     Under the terms of the negotiated plea agreement, Hamilton faces a recommended sentence of ten years in New Jersey State Prison, with a 42-month period of parole ineligibility. The parole restriction means Hamilton must serve at least three and a half years behind bars before becoming eligible for parole consideration.

     The charges stem from an August 16, 2025, investigation by the Atlantic City Police Department.

     According to authorities, officers were conducting patrol operations in the area of South Kentucky Avenue in Atlantic City when they observed Hamilton allegedly displaying a clear plastic bag containing cocaine to another male individual.

     Police intervened and placed Hamilton under arrest.

     During the arrest and subsequent search, officers discovered that Hamilton was allegedly in possession of more than nine grams of cocaine, along with a handgun. Investigators determined the narcotics were intended for distribution rather than personal use, leading to the additional charge of possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance.

     Hamilton was lodged in custody at the Atlantic County Justice Facility following a detention hearing on August 20, 2025, at which the court ordered he remain detained pending resolution of the case.

     Authorities have not publicly disclosed whether the handgun recovered during the arrest was lawfully registered or how Hamilton came into possession of the weapon.

     Under New Jersey law, unlawful possession of a handgun is a second-degree offense, which carries significant prison exposure due to the state’s strict firearms statutes. The narcotics charge, classified as a third-degree offense, relates to the distribution or intended distribution of controlled dangerous substances.

     Hamilton’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 26, 2026, before Judge Levin in Atlantic County Superior Court in Mays Landing.

     If the court accepts the plea agreement recommendation at sentencing, Hamilton will serve the negotiated prison term, subject to the mandatory parole ineligibility period set forth in the plea agreement.

Editor’s Note:

This report was written by Art Fletcher and is based on information released by authorities and statements made in open court during the plea proceedings. A guilty plea represents an admission of criminal conduct by the defendant. Sentencing recommendations contained within plea agreements are subject to final approval by the court at the time of sentencing.