40-year-old Donald Capriotti, aka Donald Gardner, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to first-degree possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of an assault firearm during the commission of a narcotics offense. He also pleaded guilty to third-degree charges of eluding police and drug possession. He now faces the possibility of 18 years in state prison, including 10 years of parole ineligibility, at sentencing.
33-year-old Chinyere Gardner also pleaded guilty to first-degree possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. Prosecutors are recommending she be sentenced to seven years in state prison.
It was back on January 25, 2013, that an ongoing drug investigation led to the execution of a search warrant at the couple's residence on Robin Road in Egg Harbor Township.
The couple was home at the time, and prosecutors say Capriotti resisted arrest, running toward an area of the house where a shotgun was later found.
Inside the home officers found more than six ounces of cocaine, 2.6 ounces of marijuana, and just under one-half ounce of heroin. Prosecutors say the cocaine and heroin were packaged in small bags for individual sale, and that digital scales and additional packaging materials were also found.
Officers also discovered an Intratec TEC 9 assault gun, loaded with a large-capacity magazine, and a loaded sawed-off shotgun with the serial number defaced.
