Jamal Campos said he was high when he admitted to leading a drug-trafficking network and selling the drugs that killed an Egg Harbor Township man in 2016.
But Superior Court Judge Bernard DeLury — who took that plea last May — said Campos was full aware when he made the deal.
And, it was a good one, DeLury said before sentencing Campos to the 20 years in prison under the deal.
Campos could have faced more than twice that time if convicted at trial.
Instead, he has to serve only about 8½ years of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.
Campos was set to plead into drug court when he was charged with the April 22, 2016 overdose death of Adam O’Gara, 42.
He asked for a postponement to be released on an ankle bracelet to have surgery he needs. But DeLury noted there had been several delays in the case.
In fact, it had been postponed so many times, O'Gara's family lost hope and decided not to attend court Friday, Assistant Prosecutor Rick McKelvey said.
Campos' family came.
That included a delay trying to get another man, currently in Recovery Court, to sign an affidavit clearing Campos.
That never came. Instead, defense attorney John Maher was handed a six-page letter signed by Campos, that seemed to blame the attorney for his plea.
Before DeLury imposed sentence, Campos' mother tearfully addressed the judge, at times barely audible, as she spoke of her firstborn.
"I didn't raise him to make all the mistakes he has made," she told the judge. "It hurt because I love him. I love him with everything in me."
