New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty to Crack Cocaine Charge

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Thomas Critten, age 30, of Jersey City, New Jersey, pled guilty today to possession with the intent to distribute 104 grams of crack cocaine in St. Lawrence County.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Sheriff Brooks J. Bigwarfe of St. Lawrence County.

As part of his guilty plea, Critten admitted that on December 20, 2018, he brought 104 grams of grams of crack cocaine to Massena, New York, with the intent of distributing the drugs to another individual.  Critten admitted he had hidden two bags containing crack cocaine in his underwear, and that police discovered the drugs during a search incident to his arrest on an unrelated charge. 

Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby scheduled sentencing for June 24, 2020.  Critten faces at least 5 years and up to 40 years in prison, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 4 years and up to life.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

This case was investigated by the St. Lawrence County Drug Task Force, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy Anderson.