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Burlington County Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine Trafficking and Illegal Firearm Possession
Nicholas Layton, 43, faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison for drug and firearm offenses; sentencing set for February 2024.
Morristown, NJ – On October 11, 2023, a Burlington County man admitted to charges of methamphetamine distribution and illegal firearm possession in Trenton federal court, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger.
Nicholas Layton, 43, of Mount Holly, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi to charges that include conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and possession of firearms by a convicted felon.
The arrest dates back to December 2018 when Layton and a co-conspirator were apprehended in Crawford County, Arkansas, with over three kilograms of methamphetamine. Layton was subsequently found in possession of a rifle and a shotgun in July 2019, despite a prior drug trafficking conviction in the District of New Jersey. At the time of his arrest in August 2019, he had approximately 200 grams of methamphetamine in his possession.
The drug trafficking counts carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life imprisonment, and fines up to $10 million. The firearms offense comes with a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for February 15, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited the collective efforts of multiple agencies for the investigation that led to Layton’s guilty plea. These include the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the New Jersey State Police, the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Arkansas State Police.
Michelle S. Gasparian of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Organized Crime and Gangs Unit in Newark will represent the government during the sentencing process.
This news is of particular significance to residents of New Jersey as it marks the culmination of a multi-agency, multi-state investigation into drug and firearm offenses that have broad societal implications.
