Jason Vella, Cocaine Distribution, New Jersey 2019

TRENTON, N.J. – Trenton federal court witnessed a guilty plea today from Jason Vella, a 39-year-old Toms River man who admitted to possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Vella's guilty plea came on the heels of a search warrant executed on Sept. 19, 2019, by investigators from the Ocean County Prosecutors Office at his residence, where they recovered over 150 grams of cocaine, drug paraphernalia, $2,295 in cash, and pieces of jewelry.

The charge of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute is punishable by a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Vella's sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 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 today's guilty plea.

The government is represented by Senior Litigation Counsel V. Grady O'Malley of the U.S. Attorney's Office's Organized Crime/Gangs Unit in Newark.

A maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine await Vella as a result of his guilty plea.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/crime-family-associate-admits-cocaine-distribution