Anthony Martin, 34, of Bridgeton, N.J., was sentenced today to 12 years in state prison, including five years of parole ineligibility, by Superior Court Judge Patricia M. Wild in Atlantic County. He pleaded guilty on March 17 to first-degree possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and second-degree possession of a handgun as a convicted felon. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison with 54 months of parole ineligibility on the drug charge, and five years without parole on the gun charge, with the two sentences to run concurrently.

Martin was arrested on Dec. 11, 2015, in an investigation by the Atlantic City Task Force (ACTF), which revealed that he was distributing up to half a kilogram of heroin per week in and around Atlantic City, including from casino hotels, where he frequently maintained a room for the purpose of distributing drugs. The ACTF includes the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice, New Jersey State
Police, State Parole Board, Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, Atlantic County Sheriff’s Office, Atlantic City Police Department, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Little Egg Harbor Township Police, Brigantine Police and Pleasantville Police. They were assisted in this investigation by the Egg Harbor Township Police Department. The task force frequently partners with U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Deputy Attorney General James Ruberton of the Division of Criminal Justice Specialized Crimes Bureau prosecuted Martin and handled the sentencing for the Atlantic City Task Force.

“This sentence sends a strong message to drug dealers like Martin who think they can hit the jackpot by bringing their narcotics and guns to Atlantic City,” said Attorney General Porrino. “You’ll lose that bet, because law enforcement is collaborating to arrest you and send you to prison for a long time.”

“Over the past six years, our Atlantic City Task Force has arrested hundreds of drug dealers and gang members, and has seized large quantities of narcotics and guns,” said Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice. “We’ll continue to work collaboratively with our federal partners to cut off the supply of deadly heroin reaching the area and reduce the gun violence that inevitably accompanies it.”

Martin was arrested by members of the Atlantic City Task Force who stopped his vehicle in Atlantic City on Dec. 11, 2015. Investigators subsequently searched a storage unit leased by Martin and seized a defaced Ruger SR9c 9mm semi-automatic pistol, a quarter of a kilo of cocaine, 78 grams of heroin, and 18 grams of crack cocaine. Members of the task force seized a total of just over $60,000, including $5,000 that Martin had on his person, $10,616 from the storage unit, $43,570 from a safe deposit box leased by Martin, and $977 from a stash house.

Attorney General Porrino commended Deputy Attorney General Ruberton and all of the members of the Atlantic City Task Force who worked on the investigation.

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