Trenton Drug Dealer Sentenced to Eight Years in State Prison for Causing Death of Mansfield Customer Who Fatally Overdosed


Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced that a Trenton drug dealer was sentenced today in Superior Court to eight years in prison for supplying the heroin that led to a Mansfield resident’s fatal overdose last summer.

Darius Beckett, 29, pled guilty in July to Strict Liability for Drug-Induced Death (First Degree) and Making Terroristic Threats (Third Degree). Under the sentence imposed by the Hon. Philip E. Haines, J.S.C., Beckett is subject to the state’s No Early Release Act and must serve 85 percent of the term before becoming eligible for parole.

On August 12, 2018, officers from the Mansfield Township Police Department were dispatched to White Pine Road in the Columbus section of the township for a report of an unresponsive adult male. Upon arrival, officers discovered the body of James “Boomer” Walton Jr., 25, in his bedroom with a hypodermic needle near his body.

Burlington County Medical Examiner Dr. Ian Hood determined the cause of death to be fentanyl toxicity. The investigation revealed that the heroin that killed Walton was purchased from Beckett.

“I’d like to acknowledge the outpouring of support for Boomer by so many of his family members and friends in court today, where his sister, Kylie, so eloquently expressed their profound loss,” Prosecutor Coffina said. “We are doing everything within our power to help end the misery and destruction caused by opioids and other illicit drugs. Prosecuting dealers whose products lead to fatal overdoses will continue to be a top priority of our Office.”

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Jeremy Lackey. The investigation was conducted by the Mansfield Township Police Department, the BCPO Gang, Gun and Narcotics Task Force, and the BCPO High-Tech Crimes Unit.

2019-102 Trenton Drug Dealer Sentenced for Drug-Induced Death

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