Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on October 31, 2023, Leroy Hairston, 44, of Manchester, was sentenced by the Honorable Kimarie Rahill, J.S.C., to ten years New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) as a result of his previously entered guilty plea to Possession of More than One-Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, in connection with an investigation that occurred in Toms River and Manchester Townships between January and April 2023. Hairston pled guilty to the charge before Judge Rahill on July 31, 2023. Additionally, Judge Rahill sentenced Hairston to five years NJSP as a result of his previously entered guilty plea to Possession of More than One-Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, in connection with an earlier unrelated investigation that occurred in Manchester between November and December 2020. Hairston pled guilty to this charge before the Honorable Lisa A. Puglisi, J.S.C., on March 20, 2023. The sentences will run concurrently.
An investigation conducted between the months of January and April 2023 by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Toms River Township Police Department, Toms River Township Police Department Special Enforcement Unit, Toms River Township Police Department K-9 Unit, Manchester Township Police Department, Manchester Township Police Department Narcotics Enforcement Team, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, identified a business in Toms River – known as “Leroy’s Tow Service” – along with a residence in Manchester owned by Leroy Hairston, 43, as being utilized to store and distribute cocaine.
Detectives from the aforementioned law enforcement agencies initiated surveillance on the subject business in Toms River as well as the residence in Manchester. On April 26, 2023, Detectives observed Hairston leaving his business in Toms River, and continued to maintain surveillance on Hairston as he left the area. Hairston parked his vehicle in a nearby parking lot, at which time he was approached and detained by Ocean County Sheriff’s Officers without incident.
Toms River Township Police Department Emergency Services Unit thereafter executed a court-authorized search warrant on the subject business in Toms River. As a result, Detectives seized approximately 100 grams of cocaine and $7,000 in United States currency. Hairston was transported to the Ocean County Jail, and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
An earlier unrelated investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force and Manchester Township Police Department Narcotics Enforcement Team – between the months of November and December 2020 – identified a residence in Manchester Township as being utilized by Hairston to store and distribute Cocaine. On December 10, 2020, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Manchester Township Police Department Narcotics Enforcement Team, and Ocean County Regional SWAT Team, executed a court-authorized search warrant on the subject residence. As a result, law enforcement seized approximately 75 grams of Cocaine as well as 26 pills that later tested positive for Fentanyl. Hairston was taken into custody at the residence, transported to the Ocean County Jail, and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Burke who handled the case on behalf of the State, as well as the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Asset Forfeiture Unit, Toms River Township Police Department, Toms River Township Police Department Special Enforcement Unit, Toms River Township Police Department Emergency Services Unit, Toms River Township Police Department K-9 Unit, Manchester Township Police Department, Manchester Township Police Department Narcotics Enforcement Team, Manchester Township Detective Bureau, Ocean County Regional SWAT Team, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, for their combined and collective efforts in connection with this investigation leading to Hairston’s guilty pleas and now his state prison sentence.