Prosecutor: Man Indicted for Dealing Deadly Drugs

A Monmouth County man has been indicted on charges in connection with the dealing of drugs that led to the May overdose death of a woman, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced.

Jomell C. Brathwaite, 36, of Neptune, has been charged with first-degree strict liability for drug-induced deaths, third-degree distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance and third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, in connection with the sale of a heroin and fentanyl concoction that led to the overdose death of a 49-year old female from Long Branch.

Brathwaite was already being lodged in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution on other charges not pertaining to this incident.

Brathwaite’s victim was found dead by her boyfriend on the morning of May 15, 2018.

The postmortem examination conducted by the Middlesex County Medical Examiner’s Office indicated that the cause of the victim’s death was “acute fentanyl and heroin toxicity.”

An investigation was launched into the death of the victim by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Long Branch Police Department. The investigation determined that Brathwaite had sold the lethal substance during the evening of May 14, 2018, at a local business located in Ocean Township.

If convicted of first-degree strict liability for drug-induced deaths, Brathwaite faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment in a New Jersey state prison without parole.

If convicted of third-degree charges, each crime carries a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment.