TOMS RIVER – A Manchester man has been sentenced to 10 years in New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) after authorities discovered him selling cocaine out of a towing business in Toms River.
Leroy Hairston, 44, previously entered guilty plea to Possession of More than One-Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute. Hairston pled guilty to the charge on July 31.
Additionally, Hairston was sentenced 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 on March 20, 2023. The sentences will run concurrently.
A multi-agency investigation led police to find a business known as “Leroy’s Tow Service” in Toms River, as well as a home in Manchester Township owned by Hairston as being used to store and distribute cocaine.
On April 26, law enforcement saw Hairston leave his business and later parked in a nearby parking lot. There, he was detained by Ocean County Sheriff’s Officers without incident and was subsequently placed under arrest.
Officers searched the business in Toms River and seized about 100 grams of cocaine and $7,000. Hairston was transported to the Ocean County Jail, and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
An earlier unrelated investigation between the months of November and December 2020 identified a home in Manchester that was being used by Hairston to store and distribute cocaine.
On December 10, 2020, detectives searched the home and seized about 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.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer acknowledged 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.
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