Toms River Man Admits Guilt for Narcotics Distribution & Assault on Officer
Marquis Belnavis, 29, of East Orange has pleaded guilty to Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute and Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer in connection with events that occurred on July 9, 2021, in Toms River. Additionally, Belnavis has also admitted to the Distribution of Cocaine in connection with a November 10, 2021 incident in Toms River, as well as a series of ongoing incidents in Ocean Gate and Stafford Township that occurred between July 28, 2022, and August 31, 2022. Belnavis was taken into custody at a property in Ocean Gate, and he has remained in the Ocean County Jail since his arrest.
On July 9, 2021, officers from the Toms River Township Police Department’s Special Enforcement Team noticed several transactions indicating that Belnavis was distributing narcotics to other individuals. Detectives followed him to a 2018 Nissan Altima, and during a search discovered that Belnavis was in the possession of a bundle of heroin intended for distribution. While trying to detain Belnavis, he attempted to flee and bit one of the officers on the hand, ultimately leading to his arrest.
On November 10, 2021, officers from the Toms River Police Department Special Enforcement Team observed Belnavis at a residence during narcotics-related surveillance. An investigation later revealed that he had distributed cocaine to a resident in the building. Belnavis was taken into custody and subsequently released because of New Jersey Bail Reform.
Following a joint investigation involving the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Stafford Township Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit, Ocean Gate Police Department, and Barnegat Township Police Department Crime Reduction Unit into Belnavis’ drug-related activities between July 28, 2022 and August 31, 2022, he was arrested on September 2, 2022. Belnavis was ultimately charged and pled guilty to handing out cocaine across Ocean Gate and Stafford Township.
Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Burke, who serves as the case’s leading representative of the state, noted that at the time of his judgment, the state will be requesting Belnavis serve a total of 14 years within New Jersey State Prison relative to all charges. All sentences will run concurrently.
Bradley D. Billhimer, Ocean County Prosecutor, extended his gratitude to those who were involved in the investigation leading up to Belnavis’ guilty plea, including the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Toms River Township Police Department, Toms River Township Police Department Special Enforcement Team, Stafford Township Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit, Ocean Gate Police Department, and Barnegat Township Police Department Crime Reduction Unit. He concluded that, ultimately, the result would have been impossible without their work behind the scenes.
