TRENTON
– Attorney General Paula T. Dow and
Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor
announced that a Burlington County man has
pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine
with the intent to distribute it.
Anthony Petrucci, 40, of Springfield Township,
Burlington County, pleaded guilty yesterday
(Nov. 9) before Superior Court Judge Jeanne
T. Covert in Burlington County to first-degree
possession with intent to distribute a controlled
dangerous substance (methamphetamine). The
charge was contained in an Aug. 22, 2006
state grand jury indictment. The case was
scheduled to begin trial yesterday.
Judge
Covert scheduled sentencing for March 11.
As part of the plea agreement, the state
will recommend a seven-year sentence with
three and half years parole ineligibility.
In
pleading guilty, Petrucci admitted that
on Feb. 14, 2006, he possessed at least
five ounces of methamphetamine that he intended
to distribute.
Following
an undercover investigation, police executed
a search warrant at Petrucci’s residence
on Feb. 14, 2006 and found more than two
pounds of methamphetamine. The search also
revealed two handguns, four vials of an
anabolic steroid, ammunition and over $15,000
in cash.
The
investigation was coordinated by Deputy
Attorney General Daniel I. Bornstein and
former Deputy Attorney General Christine
D’Elia. Deputy Attorney General Bornstein
of the Division of Criminal Justice Gangs
& Organized Crime Bureau represented
the state at the guilty plea hearing. Detective
Sergeants Eric Barlow and Brian Duross and
Detective Sergeant First Class Ronald Hampton
from the New Jersey State Police assisted
in the investigation. Attorney General Dow
thanked the following agencies for their
assistance in the investigation: The New
Jersey State Police – Weapons Trafficking
Unit, the Burlington County Prosecutor’s
Office, the Mercer County Sheriff’s
Office, the Fort Lee Police Department,
and the Springfield Police Department.
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