NEWARK – A Nutley man pleaded guilty to federal drug charges today, admitting that he sold cocaine to someone who turned out to be a government cooperating witness, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

Joseph Servidio, 46, of Nutley, pleaded guilty to a two-count federal Information charging him with distributing, and possessing with the intent to distribute, 500 grams or more of cocaine, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald D. Wigler.

Servidio faces mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a $2 million fine when he is sentenced by U.S. District Judge William J. Martini. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 13.

Servidio was arrested on July 6, 2006 by Special Agents of the F.B.I. and charged in a one count Complaint, which today’s Information supersedes. The federal complaint said that on Nov. 8, 2005, Servidio sold a government cooperating witness a three-gram sample of cocaine and advised the cooperating witness that he could get more cocaine. Thereafter, on Nov. 18, 2005, Servidio sold the cooperating witness one-quarter kilogram of cocaine for $7,000. The following month, on Dec. 13, 2005, Servidio sold the same cooperating witness one-half kilogram of cocaine for $12,500.

During his plea hearing today, Servidio admitted all of that conduct before Judge Martini.

Servidio has been held in federal custody since his arrest.

Under an Information a defendant waives the right to have his case presented to a federal grand jury and, instead, pleads guilty to charges presented by the Government.

Christie credited Special Agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charges Leslie G. Wiser, with developing the case against Servidio.

The government is represented by Senior Litigation Counsel Ronald D. Wigler, of the U.S. Attorney's Office Strike Force Unit in Newark, which prosecutes organized crime cases.

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Defense Counsel:

Marco LaRacca, Esq., Orange