Asbury Park Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Federal Prison for Distribution of Crack Cocaine

TRENTON—An Asbury Park man was sentenced today to 60 months in federal prison for distribution of crack cocaine, Acting U.S. Attorney Ralph J. Marra, Jr. announced.

U.S. District Judge Mary L. Cooper also ordered Ronald Snerling, a.k.a. “Homicide,” 22, to pay a $500 fine and to serve 4 years of supervised release upon the completion of his prison sentence.

On June 3, 2008, Snerling was arrested by Special Agents with the FBI’s Red Bank Resident Agency on an Indictment, which was returned May 7, 2008 , charging him with selling crack cocaine to another individual.

Snerling pleaded guilty before Judge Cooper on Sept. 3, 2008, to one count of distribution of more than 5 grams of crack cocaine. At his plea hearing, Snerling admitted that on two occasions in 2007, July 30 and Aug. 14, he sold pproximately 5.6 grams and 13.4 grams of crack cocaine, respectively, to an individual he later learned was an undercover law enforcement officer.

In determining the sentence, Judge Cooper consulted the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges that take into account the severity and characteristics of the offense, the defendant's criminal history, if any, and other factors. The judge, however, was not bound by those guidelines in determining a sentence.

Parole has been abolished in the federal system. Defendants who are given custodial terms must serve nearly all that time.

Marra credited Special Agents with the FBI’s Red Bank Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Weysan Dun, with the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter N. Katz of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Trenton.

Defense Attorney: John Holliday, Esq., Trenton.