TRENTON – A Toms River man with possible ties to the DeCavalcante crime family admitted to possessing cocaine which he planned to distribute.
According to U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito, 39-year-old Jason Vella pleaded guilty in a Trenton federal court on one count of possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute.
Jersey Shore Online first told you about the incident in September of 2019 when investigators from the Ocean County Prosecutors Office searched Vella’s residence with a warrant and recovered 150 grams of cocaine, drug paraphernalia, $2,295 in cash and jewelry. Two others were arrested during that search.
Vella could face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for February 26, 2021.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited the members of the FBI’s Organized Crime Task Force under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr. in Newark; and investigators from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.
