FREEHOLD — A Marlboro man who was already serving parole supervision has admitted in court to possessing a substantial amount of illegal narcotics intended for distribution, Monmouth County authorities said.
Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced that Christopher Johnson, 51, entered a guilty plea before Superior Court Judge Joseph W. Oxley.
Johnson pleaded guilty to a second-degree charge of possession of a controlled dangerous substance in excess of one-half ounce with intent to distribute. The charge resulted from a coordinated narcotics investigation carried out during the fall of 2024 by local and county law enforcement agencies.
According to prosecutors, detectives from the Freehold Township and Marlboro Township police departments partnered with the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics and Criminal Enterprise Unit and the county Narcotics Strike Force to investigate Johnson’s activities.
The investigation led authorities to execute search warrants on December 3, 2024, targeting Johnson and his motel room at the Marlboro Motor Lodge. During the searches, officers seized more than 20 grams of cocaine, along with quantities of heroin and fentanyl. Johnson was taken into custody and later determined to be on parole at the time of the arrest.
As part of the plea agreement, Johnson is expected to receive a 10-year sentence in New Jersey State Prison when he returns to court for sentencing on Thursday, February 6, 2026.
Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Emily Cartmell is handling the case for the state. Johnson is represented by defense attorney Glen Kassman of Tinton Falls.
