Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on March 8, 2023, the Honorable Kenneth T. Palmer, J.S.C., sentenced Henry Burns, 56, of Brick Township, to 15 years New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) as a result of his previously entered guilty plea to Possession of Cocaine in an Amount Greater than Five Ounces with Intent to Distribute, in connection with an investigation that transpired between April and May 2023 in Brick Township and Asbury Park. Additionally, Judge Palmer sentenced Burns to ten years NJSP – with a five-year period of parole ineligibility – as a result of his previously entered guilty plea to being a Certain Person Not to Possess a Weapon relative to the same investigation. The sentences will run concurrently. Burns pled guilty to both charges before Judge Palmer on January 22, 2024.
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, naproxen, 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 handled 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 now his state prison sentence.