On Monday, A 27-Year-Old Brick Township Man Pleaded Guilty To Cocaine Distribution

Friday, July 19, 2024, 7:00 A.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

BRICK TOWNSHIP, NJ.- Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer reported that on Monday, July 15, 2024, Ezra Wheeler, 27, of Brick Township, New Jersey, appeared in Ocean County Superior Court and entered a guilty plea to Possession of More than One Half-Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute in connection with a narcotics investigation that took place in June 2023.

     In return for the guilty plea, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office will recommend that Wheeler be sentenced to a term of ten years in New Jersey State Prison. Sentencing has been scheduled for September 13, 2024, before the Honorable David M. Fritch, J.S.C.

     According to the Prosecutor’s Office, on June 8, 2023, during an ongoing narcotics investigation into cocaine distribution in the Ocean County area, the Brick Township Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit set up surveillance on a Coventry Court residence in Brick Township.

     During the surveillance, Detectives observed Wheeler leave the residence and drive out of the area in his car. Shortly after leaving the Coventry Court neighborhood, Detectives conducted a motor vehicle stop on Wheeler and found him to be in possession of just around 18 grams of suspected cocaine. Wheeler was taken into custody without incident. 

     After transporting Wheeler to Police Headquarters and a short time later, Detectives executed a court-authorized search warrant on Wheeler’s Coventry Court residence. During the search, Detectives found 100 grams of cocaine and $19,300 in cash. 

     After being processed on charges, Wheeler was remanded to the Ocean County Jail, and following a court hearing, Wheeler was released on pretrial bail conditions.