Two Atlantic County Men Plead Guilty to Firearms and Drug Charges

Two Atlantic County men are facing significant prison time after entering guilty pleas to serious firearms and drug charges this week, marking another successful prosecution by our county's law enforcement.

On Monday, June 29, 2026, Joshua E. Brickhouse, 34, of Egg Harbor Township, appeared before New Jersey Superior Court Judge Donna Taylor and pleaded guilty to second-degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, second-degree certain persons not to possess weapons, and fourth-degree possession of a large-capacity ammunition magazine. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Brickhouse may receive a sentence of 14 years in New Jersey State Prison with seven years of parole ineligibility.

His codefendant, Nathaniel Fisher, 34, of Atlantic City, pleaded guilty to second-degree possession of a firearm while committing a CDS offense, second-degree certain persons not to possess weapons, and third-degree possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl. Fisher faces the same 14-year prison sentence, though with five years of parole ineligibility.

The charges stem from a routine traffic stop that uncovered a dangerous cache of weapons and drugs in our community. On October 22, 2025, members of the Galloway Township Police Department pulled over a vehicle because the registered owner's driver's license had expired. The female driver was found to have a suspended license.

What started as a standard traffic violation quickly escalated when officers discovered Brickhouse, seated in the front passenger seat, had an outstanding $1,500 traffic warrant. When asked to exit the vehicle, police spotted a handgun in plain view underneath the front passenger seat—a 40 S&W handgun equipped with a 30-round ammunition magazine and a switch that converted it to fully automatic.

The discovery didn't end there. After removing all occupants from the vehicle, officers found a second weapon—a 9mm Luger handgun with an extended magazine—inside a bookbag on the floor near Fisher's feet in the backseat. The bag also contained Fisher's identification, linking him directly to the weapon.

In the back passenger seat where Fisher and a female passenger were sitting, police recovered 100 bags of suspected heroin/fentanyl. Additional evidence of drug distribution was found throughout the vehicle, including packs of empty baggies and sandwich bags in the center console, along with a digital scale. Brickhouse was carrying over $1,000 in cash, while Fisher had over $100 on his person.

According to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, both men have prior criminal convictions that legally prohibit them from possessing firearms—a fact that adds weight to the charges they now face.

Brickhouse faces additional consequences beyond the weapons charges. He has also pleaded guilty to third-degree possession with the intent to distribute cocaine in a separate matter. If Judge Taylor approves the plea agreement, he will serve seven years in New Jersey State Prison for that charge, expected to run concurrent with his other sentence.

Both Brickhouse and Fisher are scheduled for sentencing on August 10, 2026. Until then, they remain incarcerated at the Atlantic County Justice Facility.

This case underscores the ongoing efforts of local law enforcement to remove illegal weapons and dangerous drugs from our streets. The presence of fentanyl—a deadly opioid responsible for countless overdose deaths—and fully automatic weapons represents a serious threat to public safety that our community cannot tolerate.