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Michael Hayes, 47, was given an eight-year state prison sentence on Tuesday, Nov. 12 for second-degree conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office said in a news release on Wednesday, Nov. 20. The sentence will run concurrently with the 60-year term he's serving for a September 2020 home invasion.
The drug charges stem from a Sunday, Dec. 16, 2020, search of Hayes’ secondary home at the Showboat Hotel. Police found cash payment receipts and mail addressed to room No. 1921 with Hayes' name on it.
The raid uncovered 4.8 grams of suspected fentanyl mixed with heroin and 12.6 grams of suspected crystal methamphetamine. Detectives also found materials commonly used to distribute drugs, including digital scales, mixers, rubber bands, cutting agents, several boxes of small empty heroin folds, spoons, ink stampers, sandwich bags, a vacuum sealer, and sifters with residue.
A 50-round high-capacity magazine loaded with hollow-point bullets was also recovered from the hotel room. As part of his sentence in the drug case, Hayes also had to forfeit $6,417.50 in cash.
The search was conducted as part of the investigation into the home invasion in Buena on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020. Hayes and an unidentified suspect ambushed a man outside his home early in the morning as he was leaving for work.
Armed and masked, they duct-taped the victim, forced him back into his home, and held him at gunpoint. Hayes and his accomplice stole $1,000 in cash and a necklace, while also threatening the victim’s parents to keep quiet.
The victim managed to escape after breaking free from the duct tape but was shot at on Hayes' orders. The shot grazed the victim’s head and he ran to a neighbor’s house to call 911.
Hayes and his accomplice ran away from the scene. Investigators tied Hayes to the crime through a fingerprint found on the duct tape.
According to state Department of Corrections records, Hayes was admitted into state prison on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. He must serve at least 51 years of his sentence before being eligible for parole under the No Early Release Act.
Hayes' maximum release date was listed as Sunday, Aug. 7, 2072, when he would be 95 years old.
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