CAMDEN, N.J. – A Point Pleasant, New Jersey, man was
sentenced today to 120 months in prison for distributing approximately 300
grams of crystal methamphetamine and thousands of pills containing heroin or
fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Carl Chianese, 80, of Point Pleasant, New Jersey, previously
pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert Kugler to an information
charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
He also admitted a violation of his supervised release by committing the drug
trafficking offense while on court supervision for two earlier federal drug
trafficking cases that involved the distribution of large quantities of
methamphetamine. Judge Kugler imposed the sentence today in Camden federal
court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements
made in court:
Chianese, along with conspirator Joseph Servidio,
distributed pills that contained heroin or fentanyl. Chianese and Servidio were
also involved in the distribution of multiple ounce quantities of crystal
methamphetamine. They sold the pills and crystal methamphetamine on multiple
occasions to an FBI undercover agent in exchange for cash payments. According
to law enforcement sources, Servidio is a member of La Cosa Nostra. These drug
transactions included the sale of 300 pills containing heroin, which were sold
to the FBI agent at a Garden State Parkway rest stop on Dec. 23, 2016. In
total, Chianese was responsible for the distribution of over 200 grams of
fentanyl and heroin, and approximately 300 grams of crystal methamphetamine.
Chianese was arrested by FBI agents at his residence on
March 14, 2018. During a search of his residence by the agents, the agents
recovered a .38 caliber revolver, a magazine for a .380 caliber semi-automatic
handgun, and over $25,000 in cash. Chianese agreed to the forfeiture of the
firearm and cash, which was ordered by the court as part of the sentence
imposed.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Kugler sentenced
Chianese to three years of supervised release.
Servidio pleaded guilty June 17, 2019, to his role in the
conspiracy and is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Kugler on March 26, 2020.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI,
under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark, with
the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. He also thanked the U.S.
Department of Labor and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney
Patrick C. Askin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Camden Office.
Defense counsel: Mark Catanzaro Esq., Mount Holly, New
Jersey
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