CAMDEN, N.J. — A Toms River resident has been sentenced to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison for possessing cocaine with intent to distribute and illegally possessing a firearm, U.S. Attorney John Giordano announced on March 26, 2025.
Masta Redding, 38, was sentenced to 151 months in prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty before U.S. District Judge Karen M. Williams in Camden federal court.
According to court documents, Redding was caught with cocaine both on his person and inside his home on March 5, 2020. He intended to distribute the narcotics. Investigators also found a loaded Jimenez Arms pistol at his residence. As a previously convicted felon, Redding was prohibited by law from owning or possessing a firearm.
Prosecutors also revealed that Redding attempted to obstruct justice by paying another individual to submit a false affidavit. The affidavit wrongly claimed that the cocaine and firearm found at the residence belonged to someone else.
In addition to his prison sentence, Redding was ordered to forfeit the firearm and ammunition involved in the offense.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), led by Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks, Jr., in collaboration with several local law enforcement agencies, including the Monmouth and Ocean County Prosecutor’s Offices, Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, and the Asbury Park Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew J. Belgiovine in Trenton and Elisa T. Wiygul in Camden.
