Police, Fire & Courts

Man Pleads Guilty to Cocaine Distribution Following Brick Traffic Stop

by
Daniel Nee
January 11, 2021

Michael Trotman (Photo: Ocean County Jail)

A local man has pleaded guilty to distributing cocaine after he was found with the substance during a traffic stop in Brick, authorities said Monday.

Michael Trotman, 35, of Beachwood, pled guilty to a charge of possession with intent to distribute in connection with the March 4, 2020 traffic stop. He also affirmed a guilty plea for possession with intent to distribute more than 5 ounces of cocaine following a separate traffic stop that occurred May 30, 2018 in Manchester.

At the time of sentencing on March 5, 2021, prosecutors will be seeking eight years in New Jersey state prison with regard to the March 4, 2020 incident in Brick, and 15 years in prison with a five-year period of parole ineligibility with regard to the 2018 incident in Manchester. The sentences are expected to run concurrently.

According to prosecutors:

On March 4, 2020, Brick Township police stopped a motor vehicle operated by Trotman for swerving on a roadway. Officers detected a strong odor of marijuana; Trotman was subsequently found to be in possession of more than one-half ounce of cocaine, as well as a quantity of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Trotman was taken into custody, and has been lodged in the Ocean County Jail since the date of this arrest on March 4, 2020.
On May 30, 2018, Manchester Township police officers executed a motor vehicle stop on a vehicle being operated by Trotman. He consented to a search of the vehicle, which resulted in the discovery of a hidden compartment in the center console area containing approximately 700 grams of cocaine, as well as quantities of codeine, oxycodone pills, and marijuana – all packaged for distribution. Approximately $1,400 in cash was also discovered in the vehicle and seized by the officers. Although initially lodged in the Ocean County Jail on this charge, Trotman was subsequently released by the court as a consequence of bail reform laws that had been recent passed.