The New Jersey office of the attorney general said investigators from a crime task force seized drugs, drug paraphernalia and more than $8,000 in cash from a residence using a search warrant on Nov. 26. They took two men into custody on various drug charges that included possession with intent to distribute.
Officers from the Atlantic City Violent Crime Task Force Task force executed a search warrant around 9:30 a.m. Nov. 26 at the residence on North Union Street in Margate. Two 20-year-old men were there, both Margate residents. Officers allegedly found the synthetic drug MDMA, or Molly, along with the cash, 1 pound of marijuana and digital scales. Experts describe Molly, as being a more refined form of Ecstasy.
The task force started investigating in June after hearing allegations the men were selling drugs in Atlantic City. Police say they purchased more than 5 ounces of a substance believed to be Molly from one of the defendants, who they charged with first-degree distribution of MDMA. They said they bought more than 0.5 ounces of Molly from the other man and charged him with second-degree distribution of MDMA. Both defendants face additional charges related to possession with intent to distribute MDMA and marijuana.
Potential punishment on the charges these young men face is serious. The first man faces from 10 to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000 on the first-degree charge. Both men face from three to 10 years in prison on the various other charges, as well as fines of as much as $150,000. A lawyer could try to negotiate with prosecutors for lesser charges in light of the age of the defendants, particularly if they did not have previous serious convictions.