An area man has been sentenced to 10 years in state prison in connection with a 2021 drug bust, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced on Friday.

On Friday, March 10, before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Marc Lemieux, Johnny Rodriquez, 51, of Long Branch, was sentenced to the 10 years after a conviction on the first-degree charge of possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute in excess of five ounces.

Rodriquez had entered a guilty plea on July 11, 2022.

The case background …

A three-month-long 2021 investigation, conducted by the Monmouth County Narcotics and Criminal Enterprise Unit and Long Branch Police Department, culminated in search warrants being executed at Rodriquez’s residence on North 5^th Avenue, Long Branch, Platinum Touch mechanic shop on Broadway, Long Branch, and 99 North Point Road, Lanoka Harbor. 

Upon executing the warrants, police seized approximately 650 grams of cocaine, approximately $19,000 cash, three cell phones, a 2003 Lexus, and seized a bank account with roughly $91,000.

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

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