CAMDEN, N.J. – Three Camden men have been convicted by a federal jury of  conspiring to sell cocaine base (crack cocaine), furanyl fentanyl, and heroin, distributing and possessing with intent to distribute these drugs, being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun, and witness tampering, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today. 

John Gunther a/k/a “Critty,” 35, Taleaf Gunther a/k/a “Leafy” and “L,” 33, and William Roland a/k/a “Chill,” 37, were convicted April 18, 2019, after an 11-day trial before U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb in Camden federal court. The jury deliberated for about a day-and-a-half before returning guilty verdicts on 10 counts.

According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial:

Brothers John and Taleaf Gunther worked together to lead a prolific drug trafficking organization that sold crack cocaine, heroin, and the synthetic opioid furanyl fentanyl around the 1700 block of Filmore Street in Camden, which was controlled by the organization. Roland assisted the Gunther brothers as a manager within the organization. Ten members of the drug ring were initially arrested in June 2017 following a long-term investigation by the FBI, which utilized multiple telephone wiretaps, surveillance, confidential informants, cooperating witnesses, more than 20 controlled drug purchases, a GPS vehicle tracker and four court-authorized search warrants, among other investigative techniques. The investigation ultimately led to the seizure of more than 300 grams of crack cocaine, quantities of furanyl fentanyl and heroin, a firearm, and drug paraphernalia. Shortly after the execution of search warrants in the case, investigators learned that Taleaf Gunther also attempted to bribe another member of the conspiracy to lie to police about a handgun recovered from a residence he used. An eleventh member of the organization was charged in 2018.

The defendants face a maximum penalty of life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, and at least 10 years of supervised release. Each of the defendants have multiple prior felonies in state court and, therefore, face possible mandatory minimum sentences of 15 years in prison.

The eight other defendants – Mark Campbell a/k/a “D” and Diz,” 39, Daron Suiter, 24, Davon Leak, 20, George Williams, 44, Karim Johnson, a/k/a “Chicky,” 40, Latoya Whealton a/k/a “Toya,” 34, Rajai Gaines, a/k/a “Jigga,” and Malcolm McCoy, 28  – previously pleaded guilty. Gaines and Johnson were each sentenced to 10 years in prison, Leak to 74 months in prison and Suiter to five years in prison. Campbell, Whealton, McCoy and Williams are awaiting sentencing.

U.S. Attorney 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 in Philadelphia; 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; and the N.J. State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, with the investigation leading to the guilty verdicts.

He also thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Gloucester Township Police Department, the Camden County Sheriff’s Department, the Cherry Hill Police Department, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for their assistance.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gabriel J. Vidoni and Alisa Shver of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.

CAMDEN, N.J. - A Camden County, New Jersey, man today admitted his role in a Camden drug trafficking organization that distributed large amounts of crack cocaine, furanyl fentanyl and heroin, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Mark Campbell, 39, a/k/a “D” and Diz,” of Sicklerville, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb in Camden federal court to a superseding information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base.

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

Campbell admitted that he supplied large quantities of cocaine base (crack cocaine) to members of a drug trafficking organization operating around the 1700 block of Filmore Street in Camden. The organization also distributed heroin and furanyl fentanyl, which it obtained from other suppliers. Ten members of the drug ring were arrested in June 2017 following a long-term investigation by the FBI, which utilized multiple telephone wiretaps, surveillance, confidential informants, cooperating witnesses, more than 20 controlled drug purchases, a GPS vehicle tracker and four court-authorized search warrants, among other investigative techniques. Members of the drug trafficking organization distributed crack cocaine, furanyl fentanyl, and heroin to users and resellers in and around Camden and to people cooperating with the FBI. The investigation ultimately led to the seizure of more than 300 grams of crack cocaine, quantities of furanyl fentanyl and heroin, a firearm, and drug paraphernalia. An eleventh defendant was later charged in March 2018.

The count to which Campbell pleaded guilty carries a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life. Sentencing is scheduled for May 13, 2019.

Six other defendants – Daron Suiter, 24; Davon Leak 20; George Williams, 44; Karim Johnson, 39, a/k/a “Chicky;” Latoya Whealton, 34, a/k/a “Toya;” and Rajai Gaines, a/k/a “Jigga,” – previously pleaded guilty.

Drug, firearm, and witness tampering charges remain pending in a third superseding indictment against four other defendants, including alleged leaders John Gunther, 35, a/k/a “Critty,” and Taleaf Gunther, 32, a/k/a “Leafy” and “L,” as well as alleged members William Roland, 37, a/k/a “Chill,” and Malcolm McCoy, 28. Trial is scheduled to begin in March 2019.

U.S. Attorney 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; and the N.J. State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, with the investigation. He also thanked the Camden County Sheriff’s Department, the Cherry Hill Police Department, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for their assistance.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gabriel J. Vidoni and Alisa Shver of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.

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

Defense counsel: Troy A. Archie Esq., Cinnaminson, New Jersey

CAMDEN, N.J. - A Camden man was arraigned in federal court today for his alleged role in a drug trafficking ring responsible for selling crack, heroin, and furanyl fentanyl in and around Camden, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Davon Leak, 19, is charged in a second superseding indictment with one count of conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base as well as quantities of heroin and furanyl fentanyl. He was arraigned this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joel Schneider in Camden federal court and was remanded to the custody of Camden County, where he is being held on other charges. Leak was charged in the federal indictment following the arrests of 10 other members of the drug ring in June 2017.

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

John Gunther, 34, of Blackwood, New Jersey, and Taleaf Gunther, 32, of Camden, obtained bulk supplies of narcotics, prepared and packaged those controlled substances for street level sale, provided crack cocaine, furanyl fentanyl, and heroin to other members for resale to customers, collected drug proceeds, and oversaw the daily sales and operation of the organization. Taleaf Gunther also allegedly possessed a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking conspiracy.

Other members of the organization – including William Roland, 36, Daron Suiter, 23, Karim Johnson, 39, Latoya Whealton, 33, and Malcolm McCoy, 27, all of Camden – assisted in the distribution and sale of the drugs. George Williams, 43, of Oaklyn, supplied heroin and furanyl fentanyl to the organization. Leak and Rajai Gaines, 36, of Camden, assisted with the preparation of drugs for resale. Mark Campbell, 28, of Sicklerville, New Jersey, supplied bulk quantities of crack cocaine to members of the organization.

The FBI-led investigation used surveillance, confidential informants, cooperating witnesses, more than 20 controlled drug purchases, record checks, a GPS vehicle tracker, and multiple telephone wiretaps and search warrants to uncover the operations of the drug trafficking organization. The investigation ultimately led to the seizure of over 300 grams of crack cocaine, quantities of furanyl fentanyl and heroin, a firearm, and drug paraphernalia.

The drug conspiracy charge with which Leak is charged carries a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a $10 million fine.

On March 26, 2018, Johnson and Suiter pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base. As part of their pleas, Johnson and Suiter also accepted responsibility for distributing furanyl fentanyl to customers in Camden. Both defendants face a mandatory minimum term of 60 months in prison when they are sentenced on July 10, 2018.

On March 12, 2018, Williams pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute furanyl fentanyl. His sentencing is scheduled for June 18, 2018.

On March 5, 2018, Whealton pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base. As part of her plea, Whealton also accepted responsibility for distributing furanyl fentanyl and heroin to customers in Camden. She faces a mandatory minimum term of 60 months in prison at her sentencing on June 11, 2018.

The charges against John Gunther, Taleaf Gunther, Roland, Campbell, McCoy, Leak, and Gaines are still pending and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

U.S. Attorney 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 in Philadelphia; 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; and the N.J. State Police, under the direction of Superintendent Col. Patrick Callahan, with the investigation.

He also thanked the Camden County Sheriff’s Department, the Cherry Hill Police Department, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for their assistance.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabriel J. Vidoni of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.

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