Guilty Plea On Weapon, Cocaine Charges Leads To Federal Prison For Toms River Man

CAMDEN, NJ — A Toms River man has been sentenced to federal prison after he pleaded guilty to cocaine and weapons charges, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced.

Masta Redding, 38, was sentenced Tuesday to 12-1/2 years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Karen M. Williams in Camden on charges of possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance and a count of being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, U.S. Attorney John Giordano said.

Redding had previously pleaded guilty to the charges before Williams, authorities said.

Redding was arrested March 5, 2020, after authorities found cocaine on him and in his residence that he intended to distribute, along with a Jimenez Arms pistol loaded with six rounds of ammunition, authorities said.

Redding later admitted that sometime after he was arrested, he paid another individual for an affidavit in which the other individual falsely claimed ownership of the cocaine and firearm found in Redding’s house. Redding then provided that affidavit to the government, authorities said.

In addition to the prison term, he was sentenced to 3 years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit the weapon and ammunition he used during the commission of the offense.

Special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks Jr., the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Asbury Park Police Department collaborated on the investigation.