Long Branch Man Charged With Multiple Cocaine Offenses

FREEHOLD - A Long Branch man is facing multiple charges related to a massive cocaine distribution operation in the city, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said.

Giddel Gonzalez Estrada, 36, Broadway, was arrested inside a Morris Avenue garage on Thursday and charged with first-degree possession of cocaine with intent to distribute over 5 ounces, second-degree possession of a weapon while in the course of committing a CDS Offense, 42 counts of combined third-degree charges including possession of cocaine, distribution of cocaine, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, and possession of a controlled dangerous substance within 1,000 feet of a school zone, Gramiccioni said.

Detectives from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Gang and Criminal Enterprise Unit and its Narcotics Strike Force arrested Estrada after they executed search warrants at an apartment at 494 Broadway, and 407 Morris Avenue, both in Long Branch, he said.

They seized three vehicles, about $32,000 in cash, approximately 500 grams of cocaine with a street value of about $50,000, a small amount of marijuana, a .22 caliber handgun, and large amounts of packaging, weighing materials and various paraphernalia used for the sale and distribution of illegal narcotics, the prosecutor said.

Estrada faces up to 20 years in a New Jersey state prison if he's convicted of first-degree possession of cocaine of over five ounces with intent to distribute. He faces five to 10 years in prison if he's convicted on any of the second-degree charges on each count and 3 to 5 years if convicted of any of the third-degree offenses, Gramiccioni said.

Anyone is information about this investigation is urged to contact Detective Fil Lao of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 1-800-533-7443.

Logo: Courtesy of Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office