Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on February 10, 2020, Michael Canto, 41, of Jackson, pled guilty before the Honorable Michael T. Collins, J.S.C., to Maintaining a Controlled Dangerous Substance Production Facility. At the time of his sentencing on April 3, 2020, the State will be seeking a term of five years New Jersey State Prison with a two-year period of parole ineligibility.

On July 31, 2019, in furtherance of an investigation into illegal drug activity in the Jackson Township area, Jackson Township Police Officers performed a lawful stop of a motorcycle operated by Canto. As a result of the stop, Canto was found to be in possession of a quantity of Methamphetamine and placed under arrest; the Jackson Township Police subsequently obtained a search warrant for a 2002 Ford F-150 pickup truck owned by Canto. A search of the truck by the Jackson Township Police Detective Bureau, with the assistance of the New Jersey State Police Hazardous Materials Recovery Unit, produced evidence indicating that Canto was operating a Methamphetamine production facility out of the truck.

“Prosecutor Billhimer would like to acknowledge the fine work of Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Patrick Sheehan who handled the case on behalf of the State, as well as the Jackson Township Police Department, Jackson Township Police Department Detective Bureau, and New Jersey State Police Hazardous Materials Recovery Unit for their collective assistance leading to Canto’s guilty plea,” the Prosecutor’s Office said.