Ocean Twp. Man Supplied Heroin/Fentanyl That Led To Man's Death

BERKELEY TOWNSHIP, NJ — An Ocean Township man pled guilty to manslaughter for supplying the heroin/fentanyl that resulted in a man's death in Berkeley Township in 2023, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer announced Monday.

The man is James Liu, 32. He will be sentenced Dec. 5, at which time the Ocean County Prosecutor will ask that he serve seven years in state prison, subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act.

On December 26, 2023, Berkeley Township Police responded to a home for a report of an unresponsive man.

Upon arrival, officers discovered the body of the victim, 33 years old, who was deceased from an apparent drug overdose. Police say Liu had supplied heroin/fentanyl to the victim.

Liu was initially charged with Possession of Heroin/Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Heroin/Fentanyl and Possession of Crack Cocaine. Further investigation and a toxicology analysis of the man who died confirmed the presence of fentanyl in his system.

Based upon this toxicology analysis, the Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the fentanyl found in the victim’s system was the cause of his death. As a consequence, on February 15, 2024, Liu was charged with Strict Liability Drug Induced Death.

On February 20, 2024, Liu surrendered himself to Berkeley Township Police headquarters.