In 2014, TF was charged in Monmouth County Superior Court by way of a 22-count indictment involving a wide range of serious drug distribution offenses. The charges included multiple counts of third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS), possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of CDS.
Additional second-degree charges were tied to alleged distribution within 500 feet of public housing and 1,000 feet of a school zone. The substance at issue was Methylone, commonly referred to as Molly.
With an extensive prior record for indictable drug offenses, TF was exposed to a mandatory extended term and faced a potential sentence of up to 150 years in New Jersey State Prison.
Attorney Clifford E. Lazzaro negotiated a resolution that dramatically reduced the exposure. TF entered a guilty plea to just 4 of the 22 counts. Specifically, he pleaded guilty to three counts of third-degree distribution of CDS and one count of third-degree distribution within 1,000 feet of a school. The remaining 18 counts were dismissed at sentencing.
All sentences were ordered to run concurrently. The State agreed to waive the mandatory extended term, significantly lowering the sentencing risk.
TF was sentenced to five years in New Jersey State Prison, with 30 months of parole ineligibility. This result significantly departed from the original maximum exposure and was the product of a focused defense strategy and strong negotiation.
This case highlights how Lazzaro Law uses in-depth knowledge of New Jersey drug laws and sentencing structures to deliver reduced outcomes in cases involving CDS distribution and school zone drug offenses.