Suspected Drug Dealer Charged in Ocean County Man's Death

An Ocean County man has been charged in the drug overdose death of a Brick Township man, authorities announced Friday.

Nicholas Ippolito, 22, of Point Pleasant Boro has been charged in the drug induced death of Joseph Piezzo, 35, who died in his home on Bristol Lane in Brick on Dec. 19, 2013, said Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato, Brick Police Chief Nils R. Bergquist and Point Pleasant Borough Police Chief Lawrence R. Williams in a joint statement issued Friday afternoon.

Ippolito is suspected of providing Piezzo with the drugs that caused his death.

Brick Township Police officers, observing signs of a drug overdose after they arrived at Piezzo's home, immediately contacted the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Major Crimes Unit and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Unit to respond, now a standard procedure in all overdose deaths, according to the prosecutor's office.

The ensuing intensive investigation would ultimately lead back to Ippolito and link him to Piezzo’s overdose death, authorities said.

An autopsy performed Dec. 20, 2013 confirmed Piezzo's death was caused by a negative reaction to prescription and street drugs. Prosecutors say an additional key piece of evidence in the case was recovered Jan. 24.

Ippolito is charged with first degree drug induced death and second degree manslaughter.  He was served his complaint summons just after 2 p.m. Friday in the Ocean County Jail, where he has been incarcerated since Feb. 9 on a parole violation. 

According to jail records, Ippolito is also facing charges of burglary and obstruction.

Ippolito's bail on the most recent charges has been set at $200,000 cash.