Sussex County Man Sentenced to 146 Months in Prison for Distributing Methamphetamine

CAMDEN, N.J. - A Sussex County, New Jersey, man was sentenced to 146 months in prison for his involvement in a drug trafficking organization distributing methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger announced today.

Steven R. Kristiansen, 54, of Byram Township, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. Circuit Judge Stephanos Bibas, to a five-count information charging him with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution and possession of methamphetamine, and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. Judge Bibas imposed the sentence on Sept. 20, 2024, in Camden federal court.

According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

In January 2022, law enforcement determined that Kristiansen was a member of a drug trafficking organization and distributed methamphetamine. From Jan. 14, 2022, to Jan. 18, 2022, Kristiansen sold over 60 grams of methamphetamine to an undercover police office. On Jan. 25, 2022, law enforcement executed search warrants at Kristiansen's residence and car and recovered over 50 grams of methamphetamine and ammunition.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Bibas sentenced Kristiansen to five years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the diection of Acting Special Agent in Charge Spiros Karabinas, with the investigation leading to the sentence.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Linares of the Cybercrime Unit in Newark.