Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on January 22, 2024, Henry Burns, 56, of Brick Township, pled guilty to Possession of Cocaine in an Amount Greater than Five Ounces with Intent to Distribute, as well as Being a Certain Person Not to Possess a Weapon, before the Honorable Kenneth T. Palmer, J.S.C., in connection with an investigation that transpired between April and May 2023 in Brick Township and Asbury Park, Monmouth County. At the time of his sentencing on March 8, 2024, the State will be seeking a term of 15 years New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) as to the narcotics charge, to run concurrent with a term of ten years NJSP – with a five-year period of parole ineligibility – as to the weapon offense.
A month-long cooperative investigation conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, and United States Drug Enforcement Administration, revealed that Burns was utilizing a residence in Brick Township as well as a store front in Asbury Park to store and distribute Cocaine. In early April 2023, Detectives from the aforementioned agencies established surveillance on the subject residence and store front. On May 17, 2023, Detectives observed Burns leave the residence and travel to a business in Red Bank. Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force subsequently approached Burns and took him into custody without incident. Court-authorized search warrants were thereafter executed at the subject residence and store front; as a result, Detectives seized various amounts of Heroin, Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Oxycodone, Naproxan, Alprazolam, ten handguns, high-capacity ammunition magazines, multiple rounds of ammunition, and approximately $8,000 in United States Currency – all from the subject residence. Burns was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he has been lodged since his apprehension.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Burke who is handling the case on behalf of the State, and commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, United States Drug Enforcement Administration, Brick Township Police Department SWAT Team, Asbury Park Police Department, City of Deal Police Department K-9 Unit, and Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, for their collaborative efforts in connection with this investigation leading to Burns’ guilty pleas, and soon his state prison sentence.