⚖️ 12-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE FOR TOMS RIVER MAN IN COCAINE CASES
A judge sentenced a 41-year-old Toms River man to 12 years in prison following his guilty plea for cocaine distribution, eluding, and financial facilitation. Police arrested him twice in 2025 after uncovering large amounts of drugs and cash during separate investigations.
📍 TOMS RIVER, NJ — A 41-year-old Toms River man has been sentenced to 12 years in state prison after pleading guilty to multiple cocaine distribution, financial facilitation and eluding charges connected to two separate 2025 cases, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.
Phillip Tarver pleaded guilty in July to two cocaine distribution charges, two financial facilitation charges and one eluding charge.
🔍 FIRST CASE
The investigation began in January 2025 when detectives monitoring another individual involved in an alleged cocaine transaction observed that person meet with Tarver.
Police later stopped Tarver on Route 37 in Toms River. According to prosecutors, officers found pills, a knife and approximately $5,300 in cash inside his vehicle.
After Tarver was transported to the Ocean County Jail, authorities said a search uncovered approximately 110 grams of crack cocaine.
🚔 SECOND CASE & PURSUIT
In August 2025, authorities said Tarver was spotted again during a separate drug investigation. Officers attempted to stop him on the Garden State Parkway, but prosecutors said he refused to pull over.
Authorities allege Tarver threw items from his vehicle before leaving the Parkway and driving through South Toms River.
The pursuit was eventually terminated because of safety concerns. Police later recovered approximately 21 grams of cocaine that prosecutors said Tarver had thrown from the vehicle.
Tarver was subsequently arrested in Barnegat Township, where authorities said he had approximately $10,000 in cash.
💰 SENTENCING
Tarver received:
🔸 12 years for each cocaine distribution charge 🔸 7 years for eluding 🔸 3 years for each financial facilitation charge
The cocaine distribution and eluding sentences will run concurrently, while the financial facilitation sentences will run consecutively to the other terms.
📰 Garden State News Network Garden State's go-to source for what's happening NOW.