CAMDEN, N.J. – A member of a drug-trafficking organization today admitted her role in a conspiracy to distribute significant amounts of illegal drugs in Camden, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Meylin Troncoso, 32, of Camden, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb in Camden federal court to an information charging her with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin within 1,000 feet of a school.  

Thirteen other members of the drug-trafficking conspiracy – Ronnie Lopez, Nelson Salcedo, Paul Salcedo, Waldemar Garcia, William Carrillo, Elisa Rivera, Ramon Velez, Naeem Sadler, Jasmin Velez, Jameel Byng, Kaliel Johnson, David Velez and Carlos Perez – previously have pleaded guilty to their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy that was based on the 500 block of Pine Street in Camden. The charges against five other defendants remain pending.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Members of the drug-trafficking organization sold heroin, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, and fentanyl – in and around Camden. An investigation led by the FBI used surveillance tactics, confidential informants, consensual recordings, over 40 controlled drug purchases, record checks, a GPS vehicle tracker, and several court-authorized wiretaps to uncover the operations of the Camden drug-trafficking organization.

The count to which Troncoso pleaded guilty carries a mandatory penalty of one year in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison, and a $2 million fine. Her sentencing is scheduled for May 18, 2020.

U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI’s South Jersey Violent Offender and Gang Task Force, South Jersey Resident Agency, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Tara McMahon in Philadelphia; the Camden County Police Department, under the direction of Chief Joseph Wysocki; the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer; the Camden County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Gilbert L. Wilson; the Cherry Hill Police Department, under the direction of Chief William P. Monaghan; and the N.J. State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty pleas. He also thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Department of Homeland Security for their assistance.

This case is being conducted under the auspices of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara A. Aliabadi and Patrick C. Askin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.

For the five defendants whose charges remain pending, the charges and allegations are merely accusations, and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

CAMDEN, N.J. – A member of a Camden drug-trafficking organization pleaded guilty today to distributing significant amounts of illegal drugs in Camden, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Carlos Perez, 46, of Pennsauken, New Jersey, admitted his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy that was based on the 500 block of Pine Street in Camden; he pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb in Camden federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, crack cocaine, fentanyl and powder cocaine.

Twelve other members of the drug-trafficking conspiracy – Ronnie Lopez, Nelson Salcedo, Paul Salcedo, Waldemar Garcia, William Carrillo, Elisa Rivera, Ramon Velez, Naeem Sadler, Jasmin Velez, Jameel Byng, Kaliel Johnson, and David Velez – previously have pleaded guilty in this case. The charges against six other defendants remain pending.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Members of the drug-trafficking organization sold heroin, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, and fentanyl – in and around Camden. An investigation led by the FBI used surveillance tactics, confidential informants, consensual recordings, over 40 controlled drug purchases, record checks, a GPS vehicle tracker, and several court-authorized wiretaps to uncover the operations of the Camden drug-trafficking organization.

The count to which Perez pleaded guilty carries a mandatory penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of a life in prison, and a $10 million fine. His sentencing is scheduled for May 4, 2020.

U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI’s South Jersey Violent Offender and Gang Task Force, South Jersey Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael T. Harpster in Philadelphia; the Camden County Police Department, under the direction of Chief Joseph Wysocki; the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer; the Camden County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Gilbert L. Wilson; the Cherry Hill Police Department, under the direction of Chief William P. Monaghan; and the N.J. State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty pleas. He also thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Department of Homeland Security for their assistance.

This case is being conducted under the auspices of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara A. Aliabadi and Patrick C. Askin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.

For the six defendants whose charges remain pending, the charges and allegations are merely accusations, and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Defense counsel: Teri Lodge Esq., Marlton, New Jersey

CAMDEN, N.J. – A member of a drug-trafficking organization today admitted his role in a conspiracy to distribute heroin in Camden, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

David Velez, 31, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Renee Marie Bumb in Camden federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin.

Eleven other members – Ronnie Lopez, Nelson Salcedo, Paul Salcedo, Waldemar Garcia, William Carrillo, Elisa Rivera, Ramon Velez, Naeem Sadler, Jasmin Velez, Jameel Byng, and Kaliel Johnson – have previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the drug-trafficking conspiracy in the 500 block of Pine Street in Camden. Charges against six other defendants in this case remain pending.

The guilty pleas in this case reflect that the various members of the drug-trafficking organization sold heroin, crack cocaine and powder cocaine in and around the City of Camden.

According to documents filed in this case and other cases and statements made in court:

An investigation led by the FBI used surveillance tactics, confidential informants, consensual recordings, over 40 controlled drug purchases, record checks, a GPS vehicle tracker, and several court-authorized wiretaps to uncover the operations of the Camden drug-trafficking organization.

The count to which Velez pleaded guilty carries a mandatory penalty of five years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison, and a $5 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for April 20, 2020.

U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI’s South Jersey Violent Offender and Gang Task Force, South Jersey Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael T. Harpster; the Camden County Police Department, under the direction of Chief Joseph Wysocki; the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer; the Camden County Sherriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Gilbert L. Wilson; the Cherry Hill Police Department, under the direction of Chief William P. Monaghan; and the N.J. State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. He also thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Department of Homeland Security for their assistance.

This case is being conducted under the auspices of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara A. Aliabadi and Patrick C. Askin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.

The charges and allegations against the other defendants are merely accusations, and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Defense counsel: Mark Catanzaro Esq., Mount Holly, New Jersey

CAMDEN, N.J. – Two members of a drug-trafficking organization today admitted their roles in distributing significant amounts of illegal drugs in Camden, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Jameel Byng, 26, and Kaliel Johnson, 27, both of Camden, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb in Camden federal court to their roles in a conspiracy based on the 500 block of Pine Street in Camden and responsible for selling heroin, crack cocaine and cocaine. Byng pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and powder cocaine. Johnson pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin.

Nine other members of the drug-trafficking conspiracy – Ronnie Lopez, Nelson Salcedo, Paul Salcedo, Waldemar Garcia, William Carrillo, Elisa Rivera, Ramon Velez, Naeem Sadler, and Jasmin Velez – previously have pleaded guilty in this case. The charges against eight other defendants in this case remain pending.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

An investigation led by the FBI used surveillance tactics, confidential informants, consensual recordings, over 40 controlled drug purchases, record checks, a GPS vehicle tracker, and several court-authorized wiretaps to uncover the operations of the drug-trafficking organization in which Byng and Johnson participated.

The count to which Byng pleaded guilty carries a mandatory penalty of five years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison, and a $5 million fine. The count to which Johnson pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI’s South Jersey Violent Offender and Gang Task Force, South Jersey Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael T. Harpster; the Camden County Police Department, under the direction of Chief Joseph Wysocki; the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer; the Camden County Sherriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Gilbert L. Wilson; the Cherry Hill Police Department, under the direction of Chief William P. Monaghan; and the N.J. State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty pleas. He also thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Department of Homeland Security for their assistance.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara A. Aliabadi and Patrick C. Askin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.

The charges and allegations against the other defendants are merely accusations, and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Defense counsel:

Byng: Tamika McKoy Esq., Camden

Johnson: Edward F. Borden Esq., Cherry Hill, New Jersey

CAMDEN, N.J. – A grand jury has returned an indictment against five members of a drug-trafficking organization for conspiring to distribute significant amounts of narcotics through an open-air drug market in Camden, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today.

The indicted defendants include: Juan Figueroa, 22; Christopher Vasquez, 29; Jose Diaz, 27; and Jose Agron, 26, all of Camden; and Dwight Williams, 28, of Lumberton, New Jersey. The indictment charges each defendant with participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy that involved at least one kilogram of a mixture and substance containing heroin; at least 280 grams of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base (“crack cocaine”); and quantities of cocaine and fentanyl. Each defendant named in the indictment was previously charged by federal complaint.

Nine other members of the drug-trafficking conspiracy – Ronnie Lopez, Nelson Salcedo, Paul Salcedo, Waldemar Garcia, William Carrillo, Elisa Rivera, Ramon Velez, Naeem Sadler, and Jasmin Velez – previously have pleaded guilty in this case. The charges against four other defendants in this case remain pending, and they and the defendants indicted today are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

The FBI used surveillance, confidential informants, consensual recordings, multiple controlled drug purchases, a GPS vehicle tracker, search warrants of several different locations, and several court-authorized wiretaps to uncover the operations of a drug trafficking organization that dealt heroin, crack cocaine, cocaine, and fentanyl in and around Camden. The organization’s activities were concentrated on the 400-500 blocks of Pine Street, where members distributed drugs to customers who approached on foot and in vehicles. The organization also supplied drugs elsewhere, including in and around the residences of some of its members.

Members of the organization previously had conducted drug trafficking activities in and around the 1900 block of Filmore Street. After a fatal, drug-related shooting in that area in April 2017, local law enforcement increased their presence in the area and the drug-trafficking activities ultimately shifted to the area around Pine Street.

The investigation revealed that the organization’s members worked together in a multi-layered organization to supply drugs. The main role of Ronnie Lopez – one of the leaders of the organization – was to obtain bulk quantities of illegal drugs for sale to customers. The organization also had distributors and packagers, such as Carlos Perez and Nelson Salcedo, whose main roles were to obtain drugs from Lopez and others and to prepare and package the drugs for distribution downstream. The organization used “runners,” or managers, like Juan Figueroa and Paul Salcedo. These individuals obtained drugs from higher-level distributors and packagers within the organization and then provided those drugs downstream to shift managers like Jose Diaz and Christopher Vazquez. “Runners” also collected drug proceeds from lower-level shift managers and provided that money to higher-level members of the organization, such as Lopez. Shift managers, in turn, supervised the organization’s set workers, including Jose Agron, Dwight Williams, Elisa Rivera, Jasmin Velez, Kaliel Johnson, William Carrillo, Meylin Troncoso, Waldemar Garcia, Naeem Sadler, Jameel Byng, Ramon Velez and David Velez. These set workers sold drugs directly to customers and passed the proceeds up the organizational hierarchy.

Multiple communications intercepted by wiretaps reflected that members of the organization owned guns and were prepared to use them. In November 2018, law enforcement officers recovered firearms during the execution of several search warrants on locations related to the drug-trafficking organization. Juan Figueroa currently is facing several charges in Camden County Superior Court regarding the Aug. 7, 2018, shooting of two law enforcement officers, who were in an unmarked car and wearing plain clothes after having conducted surveillance earlier in the day on members of the organization. Also, some of the heroin that was purchased from the organization bore the same stamp as drugs found at the sites of drug overdoses in Camden, including two fatal overdoses.

The drug trafficking conspiracy count carries a mandatory penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a $10 million fine.

U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI’s South Jersey Violent Offender and Gang Task Force, South Jersey Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael T. Harpster; the Camden County Police Department, under the direction of Chief Joseph Wysocki; the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer; the Camden County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Gilbert L. Wilson; the Cherry Hill Police Department, under the direction of Chief William P. Monaghan; and the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, with the investigation leading to today’s indictment. He also thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Department of Homeland Security for their assistance.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara A. Aliabadi and Patrick C. Askin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.

Defense counsel:

Juan Figueroa: Paul Sarmousakis Esq., Avalon, New Jersey

Vasquez: Edward J. Crisonino Esq., Collingswood, New Jersey

Diaz: John B. Brennan Esq., Marlton, New Jersey

Agron: Gil Scutti Esq., Somerdale, New Jersey

Williams: Justin Loughry Esq., Camden

10 Arrests Made in Coordinated Takedown by Federal and State Law Enforcement; Eight Defendants At Large, One in Custody on State Charges

CAMDEN, N.J. – Nineteen people were charged today for their roles in a conspiracy to sell significant amounts of illegal drugs in Camden, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

A complaint unsealed today charges the defendants (see chart below) with participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy that involved at least 280 grams of cocaine base, at least one kilogram of heroin, and other quantities of cocaine and fentanyl. The defendants arrested today are scheduled to have their initial appearances this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joel Schneider in Camden federal court. E defendants remain at large.

According to documents filed in this case:

An investigation led by the FBI used surveillance, confidential informants, consensual recordings, multiple controlled drug purchases, record checks, a GPS vehicle tracker, and several court-authorized wiretaps to uncover the operations of a drug trafficking organization that dealt crack cocaine, cocaine, heroin and fentanyl in and around the City of Camden. The organization’s activities were concentrated on the 400-500 blocks of Pine Street, where members distributed drugs to customers who approached on foot and in vehicles. The organization also supplied drugs to customers and other distributors elsewhere.

Members of the organization previously had conducted drug trafficking activities in and around the 1900 block of Filmore Street. After a fatal, drug-related shooting in that area in April 2017, local law enforcement increased their presence in the area and the organization ultimately shifted its activities to Pine Street.

The investigation has revealed that from November 2016 to November 2018, the organization’s members worked together in a multi-layered organizational structure to supply drugs. The main role of Ronnie Lopez – one of the alleged leaders of the organization – was to obtain bulk quantities of illegal drugs for sale to customers. The organization also had distributors and packagers, such as Carlos Perez and Nelson Salcedo, whose main roles were to obtain drugs from Lopez and others and to prepare and package the drugs for distribution downstream. The organization used “runners,” or managers, like Juan Figueroa and Paul Salcedo. These individuals obtained drugs from higher-level distributors and packagers within the organization and then provided those drugs downstream to shift managers like Jose Diaz and Christopher Vazquez. “Runners” also collected drug proceeds from lower-level shift managers and provided that money to higher-level members of the organization, such as Lopez. Shift managers, in turn, supervised the organization’s set workers, including Jose Agron, Elisa Rivera, Jasmin Velez, Dwight Williams, Kaliel Johnson, William Carrillo, Meylin Troncoso, Waldemar Garcia, Naeem Sadler, and Jameel Byng. These set workers sold drugs directly to customers and passed the proceeds up the organizational hierarchy. David Velez and Ramon Velez sold drugs supplied by the organization near their residences.

The drug trafficking organization is also believed to have used violence in the course of its operations. Multiple communications intercepted by wiretaps reflected that members of the organization owned guns and were prepared to use them. Juan Figueroa currently is facing several charges in Camden County Superior Court regarding the Aug. 7, 2018, shooting of two law enforcement officers, who were in an unmarked car and wearing plain clothes after having conducted surveillance earlier in the day on members of the organization. Also, some of the heroin that was purchased from the organization bore the same stamp as drugs found at the sites of drug overdoses in Camden, including two fatal overdoses.

The drug trafficking conspiracy count carries a mandatory penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a $10 million fine.

U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI’s South Jersey Violent Offender and Gang Task Force, South Jersey Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael Harpster; the Camden County Police Department, under the direction of Chief J. Scott Thomson; the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Mary Eva Colalillo; the Camden County Sherriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Gilbert L. Wilson; the Cherry Hill Police Department, under the direction of Chief William P. Monaghan; and the N.J. State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, with the investigation leading to the charges.

He also thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Department of Homeland Security for their assistance.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara A. Aliabadi and Patrick C. Askin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.

The charges and allegations contained in the complaints and the charges against Figueroa in state court are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.



Defendant





Age





Residence





Nelson Salcedo





48





Camden





Ronnie Lopez





40





Pennsauken, New Jersey





Paul Salcedo





28





Camden





Carlos Perez





45





Collingswood, New Jersey





**Juan Figueroa





21





Camden





Jose Diaz





26





Camden





*Christopher Vazquez





28





Camden





*Ramon Velez





43





Camden





*David Velez





30





Camden





*Waldemar Garcia





33





Camden





Naeem Sadler





18





Camden





*Kaliel Johnson





26





Camden





Jasmin Velez





25





Camden





*Elisa Rivera





28





Camden





*Meylin Troncoso





31





Camden





Dwight Williams





27





Mount Holly, New Jersey





William Carrillo





44





Camden





*Jose Agron





25





Camden





Jameel Byng





25





Camden



*denotes at large

**denotes in state custody