KEYPORT – A local man was sentenced for dealing drugs out of his home and business after a four-month long investigation to crack down on drug trafficking in the area.
Mark Capichana, 56, of Keyport, received seven years in prison for Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine in an Amount Greater than Five Ounces with Intent to Distribute. He also received another seven years for Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity. The sentences will run back to back.
Capichana was nabbed in “Operation Checkmate,” conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force and a number of other agencies.
The investigation marked three networks that were responsible for bringing more than three kilograms of cocaine every week into the Ocean, Monmouth, and Middlesex County areas.
Police said that on October 26, 2021, Detectives executed court authorized search warrants at Capichana’s residence and business, both in Keyport. They recovered approximately 1,455 grams of cocaine as well as $166,000.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer thanked Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Burke who handled the case on behalf of the State, and also recognized the following agencies: Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Asset Forfeiture Unit; Ocean County Regional SWAT Team; United States Drug Enforcement Administration – HIDTA Group 5; Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force; New Jersey State Police – Trafficking Central Unit; New Jersey State Police Teams Unit; New Jersey Air National Guard Counter Drug Task Force; Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Unit; Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force; Matawan Borough Police Department; Matawan Borough Police Department K-9 Unit; Keyport Borough Police Department; Manalapan Township Police Department; Ocean County Sheriff’s Office; Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Field Services Unit; Ocean County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit; Barnegat Township Police Department; Brick Township Police Department Street Crimes Unit; Brick Township Police Department Special Response Team; Brick Township Police Department K-9 Unit; Beachwood Borough Police Department; Berkeley Township Police Department; Jackson Township Police Department; Lakewood Township Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit; Lakewood Township Police Department Special Response Team; Lakewood Township Police Department K-9 Unit; Manchester Township Police Department Special Enforcement Team; Ocean Township Police Department (Waretown); Point Pleasant Borough Police Department; South Toms River Police Department; Stafford Township Police Department; Toms River Township Police Department Special Enforcement Unit; Toms River Township Police Department Emergency Services Unit; Toms River Township Police K-9 Unit; Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office; Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit; Aberdeen Township Police Department; Asbury Park Police Department; Hazlet Township Police Department; Hazlet Township Police Department K-9 Unit; Keansburg Borough Police Department; Marlboro Township Police Department; Middletown Township Police Department; Sea Bright Borough Police Department; Old Bridge Township Police Department – Bureau of Narcotics; Union Beach Borough Police Department; Union Beach Borough Police Department K-9 Unit; New York City Police Department – 50th Precinct Field Intelligence Office; and the City of New York Office of Special Narcotics Prosecutor.
