Man Sentenced In Cocaine Distribution In Toms River

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A South Toms River man has been sentenced to seven years in prison for cocaine distribution, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said.

Angel A. Perez, 39, was sentenced Friday by Superior Court Judge Kenneth T. Palmer in connection with Perez's guilty plea to possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. He pleaded guilty on May 9.

Perez was arrested Sept. 27, 2023, during an investigation into cocaine distribution in Toms River, authorities said.

Detectives in Toms River saw two vehicles parked next to each other in the area of the Presidential Apartments and saw a woman get out of her vehicle and into the passenger's side of the other vehicle, which was being driven by Perez. The detectives approached and removed both Perez and the woman from the vehicle and saw cocaine in plain view on the driver's side floorboard, authorities said.

The next day, authorities with a search warrant searched the vehicle and seized more cocaine, along with oxycodone, suboxone, hashish, and drug paraphernalia.

Perez was charged with possession of more than a half-ounce of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine, and wandering to obtain or distribute a controlled dangerous substance. He was served with additional charges after the search of the vehicle and was held in the Ocean County Jail until Oct. 10, 2023, when he was released under New Jersey Bail Reform, the prosecutor's office said.

He was being held in the Ocean County Jail on Monday pending transfer to state prison.