Prosecutors say a loaded handgun and fentanyl were found in a townhouse accessible to four children. Three other Atlantic City residents also pleaded guilty in connection with the investigation.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — A 32-year-old Atlantic City man is expected to receive a 12-year state prison sentence after pleading guilty to serious drug and firearms charges stemming from an investigation that uncovered cocaine, fentanyl and a loaded handgun inside a townhouse where four children lived.
Bilal Freeman pleaded guilty Monday, October 19, before Superior Court Judge Donna M. Taylor to three offenses: first-degree possession of a handgun by a person previously convicted of an offense covered by New Jersey's No Early Release Act, first-degree possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and second-degree possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Under the terms of his plea agreement, Freeman is expected to receive an aggregate sentence of 12 years in New Jersey State Prison, including five years during which he will be ineligible for parole.
He remains incarcerated pending sentencing, which is scheduled for January 2027.
Police Followed Suspect From Atlantic City to Trenton
According to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, the investigation unfolded during the evening of September 30, 2025, and into the following morning.
Detectives assigned to the New Jersey State Police Crime Suppression South Unit conducted surveillance as Freeman drove from his Atlantic City townhouse to a residence in Trenton.
After arriving in Trenton, a passenger exited Freeman's vehicle, entered the residence and returned a short time later.
Detectives followed the vehicle as it traveled back toward Atlantic City.
The vehicle was subsequently stopped at a rest stop along the Atlantic City Expressway.
During a search authorized by a warrant, investigators discovered more than five ounces of cocaine and approximately $1,100 in cash on Freeman, prosecutors said.
Loaded Handgun and Fentanyl Found Inside Townhouse
Later that evening, detectives executed a court-approved search warrant at Freeman's Atlantic City townhouse.
Inside, investigators recovered a loaded semiautomatic handgun, numerous folds of fentanyl bearing different stamps, and drug paraphernalia commonly used to package and distribute illegal narcotics.
Prosecutors said surveillance footage showed Freeman accessing a bag containing the handgun and fentanyl shortly before he traveled to Trenton.
The investigation also raised concerns about the safety of children living in the residence.
According to prosecutors, the loaded handgun and fentanyl were found in areas accessible to four children who resided in the townhouse with Freeman and 37-year-old Raleesha Cheatham.
The Prosecutor's Office did not report that any of the children were injured or exposed to the substances.
Woman Pleads Guilty to Child Endangerment
Cheatham, who was inside the townhouse when detectives executed the search warrant, subsequently pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child.
Under her plea agreement, she is expected to receive a probationary sentence conditioned on serving approximately 180 days in the Atlantic County Justice Facility.
Her final sentence remains subject to court approval.
The circumstances involving the children were among the most concerning details disclosed in the investigation, given the dangers associated with unsecured firearms and access to illegal narcotics.
Two Other Atlantic City Men Plead Guilty
Two additional Atlantic City residents were charged as part of the investigation.
Leroy Clark, 47, and Makai Martin, 29, both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous substances.
Martin was accepted into New Jersey's Recovery Court Program, which provides court-supervised treatment and monitoring for eligible individuals whose criminal behavior is connected to substance use disorders.
Clark's sentence was ordered to run concurrently with a prison term he was already serving for other drug offenses.
The Prosecutor's Office did not provide additional details about the individual roles of Clark and Martin in the investigation.
Sentencing Scheduled for January
Freeman remains in custody awaiting his January 2027 sentencing.
Although the plea agreement calls for a 12-year aggregate prison term, the sentence has not yet been formally imposed by the court.
The case was investigated by the New Jersey State Police Crime Suppression South Unit.
Chief Assistant Prosecutor Christopher D'Esposito prosecuted the matter through the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office Gangs, Guns, and Narcotics Unit.
Source: Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, October 2026 announcement of guilty pleas in the Bilal Freeman narcotics and firearms investigation.
