A 48-year-old area restaurant owner, who was convicted in May on 91 charges stemming from the sale of drugs and weapons out of his eatery, is facing 50 years in prison, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced.

Long Branch resident Anthony “Nygee” Stevenson, owner of Cristabell’s American Soul Food Restaurant, on Springdale Avenue in the city, was sentenced on Wednesday to the 50 years in a New Jersey state prison with a 26-year period of parole ineligibility after Monmouth County Superior Court Judge John T. Mullaney, Jr. ordered the 91 counts be merged into eight for the purpose of sentencing and the periods of incarceration running consecutively.

The sentencing, based on specific charges, was broken down by Judge Mullaney as follows:

• an extended term of 20 years, with a 10-year period of parole ineligibility, on the charge of second-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance (heroin) with intent to distribute;

• 10 years, with a five-year prison of parole ineligibility, for the conviction on second-degree distribution of heroin;

• five years in state prison, with a two-and-a-half-year period of parole ineligibility, for third-degree distribution of heroin;

• ten years in state prison with a 5-year prison of parole ineligibility for the conviction on second degree conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance (cocaine) with intent to distribute;

• and an additional five years, with a three-and-a-half-year period of parole ineligibility, for third-degree unlawful sale of an assault weapon.

The conviction on May 15 came after a two-month trial during which the details related to undercover sales of heroin from Christabell’s were revealed to a jury.

The case was part of an investigation dubbed Operation Grand Opening in which Stevenson sold drugs and guns to undercover investigators out of a restaurant he was renovating at 530 Springdale Avenue in Long Branch.

The Operation was dubbed Grand Opening because surveillance began on the day of the grand opening of the restaurant on May 25, 2011. During the course of the investigation, more than 9,000 calls were intercepted by detectives from county and local law enforcement agencies culminating with the arrest of more than 40 between Aug. 1 and 8, 2011.

Stevenson sold roughly 1,900 bags of heroin to an undercover officer on 22 occasions, either directly or through the use of the delivery man at his restaurant, who also delivered the drug.

One of the lower level dealers who had been supplied heroin by Stevenson then re-distributed the drugs to another undercover detective.

On the day Stevenson was arrested, he and another co-defendant were in possession of 2,500 bags of heroin after meeting with his supplier in Newark. In addition to drugs, Stevenson also sold two assault rifles, both with large capacity magazines, to an undercover detective for $3,000.

The case was prosecuted by Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Paul Alexander.

Stevenson is represented by Maria Noto, Esq., of Matawan.

— Edited press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office