The federal sentence for Rufus Young, 42, of Asbury Park, reflected his top role in a group that distributed heroin throughout Monmouth and Ocean counties as well as other parts of New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman said.
TRENTON -- A leader of a drug-trafficking organization based in Monmouth County was sentenced on Wednesday to 15 years in prison.
The federal sentence for Rufus Young, 42, of Asbury Park, reflected his top role in a group that distributed heroin throughout Monmouth and Ocean counties as well as other parts of New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman said.
Young was half of the Britt-Young drug trafficking organization that authorities took down last year in a series of arrests.
Asbury Park man admits heroin distribution conspiracy
Young pleaded guilty in May to one count of conspiring to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin between Feb. 2013 and March 2014, when police charged 19 people.
Robert Britt, a 45-year-old Asbury Park resident who was incarcerated on unrelated charges at the time, controlled the operation from prison, authorities said, while Young was in charge of the street operations.
Young's responsibilities included supplying heroin to lower level dealers who, in turn, distributed the opiate to others, according to court documents.
When he pleaded guilty, Young told U.S. District Judge Peter Sheridan in Trenton that he kept several stash houses, including a recording studio in Toms River and two apartments in Neptune.
In all, Young admitted to distributing between 1 and 3 kilograms of heroin during the conspiracy.
He could have faced up to 40 years in prison.
MaryAnn Spoto may be reached at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
