Search of Home Nets $50K in Cocaine, $32K in Cash, 3 Vehicles

FREEHOLD – An investigation started earlier this year culminated Wednesday afternoon with the arrest of Long Branch man accused of distributing cocaine in the Long Branch area, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

Giddel Gonzalez Estrada, who will celebrate his 37th birthday on Tuesday, of Broadway, was arrested inside a Morris Avenue garage Wednesday afternoon and charged with first degree Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute (over 5 ounces), second degree Possession of a Weapon While in the Course of Committing CDS Offense, 42 counts of combined third degree charges including Possession of Cocaine, Distribution of Cocaine, Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with Intent to Distribute, Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance within 1,000 feet of a School Zone.

Detectives from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Gang and Criminal Enterprise Unit and its Narcotics Strike Force executed search warrants at an apartment at 494 Broadway, and 407 Morris Avenue, both in Long Branch. Seized at the two locations were three vehicles, about $32,000 in cash, approximately 500 grams of cocaine with a street value of about $50,000, a small amount of marijuana, a .22 cal. handgun, and large amounts of packaging, weighing materials and various paraphernalia used for the sale and distribution of illegal narcotics.

If convicted of first degree Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute (over 5 ounces), Estrada faces up to 20 years in a New Jersey state prison. If convicted of any of the second degree charges, he faces a sentence of five to ten years in prison on each count. If convicted of any of the third degree offense, Estrada faces a sentence of three to five years in prison.

Anyone is information about this investigation is urged to contact Detective Fil Lao of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 1-800-533-7443.

Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.

The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Merlin Thomas.

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