CAMDEN, N.J. – Two members of an Atlantic City drug-trafficking organization, including the leader of the organization, pleaded guilty today to distributing large amounts of heroin throughout Atlantic City, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said.

Khalif Toombs, 30, of Egg Harbor Township, NJ, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler in Camden federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin.

Nasir Brown, 27, of Atlantic City, NJ, also pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin.

Eight other members of the drug trafficking conspiracy – Wilbert Toombs, Quadir Stanley, Dean Johnson, Khalif Davis, Joseph Aversa, Thomas Randall, Mayda Hernandez, and Sarah Taliaferro – previously have pleaded guilty. The charges against twelve other defendants remain pending.

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

Toombs, Brown, and other members of the drug conspiracy trafficked heroin from Paterson, New Jersey and into Atlantic City, New Jersey throughout the course of the investigation. Toombs admitted in court to conspiring with others to traffic between three and ten kilograms of heroin during this time and to being a manager and supervisor of the drug trafficking conspiracy which operated throughout Atlantic County. An investigation led by the FBI used physical and video surveillance, confidential informants, consensual recordings, and two court authorized wiretaps to uncover the operations of Toombs and his many coconspirators. The investigation tracked multiple stamps of heroin being distributed by Toombs and others, including, “AK-47,” “Apple,” “Fortnite,” “Rolex,” “Frank Lucas,” “Bentley,” “Pandora,” and “9 ½.” Between January 1, 2017 and June 21, 2019, these stamps have accounted for 48 deaths and 84 non-fatal overdoses in the State of New Jersey.

The count to which Toombs pleaded guilty carries a mandatory penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of a life in prison, and up to a $10 million fine. His sentencing is scheduled for May 12, 2020.

The count to which Brown pleaded guilty carries a mandatory penalty of 5 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison, and up to a $5 million fine. His sentencing is scheduled for May 12, 2020.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI’s Safe Streets South Jersey Violent Incident and Gang Task Force, Atlantic City Resident Agency, and FBI-Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie; officers of the Atlantic City Police Department, under the direction of Chief Henry White; the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Damon Tyner; the Atlantic County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Eric Scheffler; and the Pleasantville Police Department, under the direction of Chief Sean Riggin, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty pleas. He also thanked the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; and the N.J. State Police 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. Attorney Martha K. Nye of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Trenton.

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

Defense counsel:

Toombs: Jerome Ballarotto Esq., Trenton, New Jersey

Brown: Mark Catanzaro Esq., Mount Holly, New Jersey

CAMDEN, N.J. – Twenty-two people have been charged for their roles as members, associates, and suppliers of an Atlantic City, New Jersey-based drug-trafficking organization that distributed heroin throughout the area, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today.

Nineteen defendants were arrested today, one defendant was in custody on previous state charges, and two defendants are not yet in custody. All of the defendants are charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute over one kilogram of heroin. The defendants arrested today are scheduled to appear this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ann Marie Donio in Camden federal court. (See chart below.)

“The defendants charged today have been flooding the streets of Atlantic City and surrounding towns with heroin, often with tragic results,” U.S. Attorney Carpenito said. “Numerous deaths and overdoses have been linked to the ‘brands’ pushed by these drug traffickers. With our law enforcement partners, we are working to get these drugs, and the organizations that distribute them, off the streets of Atlantic City.”

“From international terrorists to street level drug dealers, the FBI is committed to keeping you safe,” FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Gregory W. Ehrie said. “Today's operation should serve as a warning to those thinking of filling the void created by the arrests - we aren’t finished. Our agents are dedicated and persistent. We will continue our efforts to free the community of deadly drugs and drug dealers. We will continue on our mission to protect the public.”

"This is a great day for Atlantic City, and a great day for Atlantic County," Atlantic City Police Chief Henry White Jr. said. "The dismantling of an organization that has brought sorrow and anguish to so many families through the distribution of deadly narcotics is a win for the community. Together, with our federal, state and local partners, we have showed those that wish to invade and flood our neighborhoods with deadly drugs that it will not be tolerated. We will continue to fight on behalf of the men, women and children of our respective communities." 

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

An authorized wiretap investigation revealed that from April of 2017 through June of 2019, the drug trafficking organization’s leader, Khalif Toombs, operated a massive drug distribution ring, utilizing multiple stash houses throughout Atlantic City and numerous drug couriers to re-distribute the heroin. Toombs and his associates coordinated their efforts through the use of phone calls, text messages, and social media. The investigation revealed that Toombs obtained his heroin from a supplier in Paterson, New Jersey, and used Atlantic City associates to make frequent trips to Paterson to obtain his resupply of heroin.

Through the course of the investigation, the FBI determined that Toombs and his associates were distributing multiple “stamps,” or brands, of heroin, including “AK-47,” “Apple,” “Fortnite,” “Rolex,” “Frank Lucas,” “Bentley,” “Pandora,” and “9 ½.” Between Jan. 1, 2017, and June 21, 2019, drugs with these stamps have accounted for 48 deaths and 84 non-fatal overdoses in New Jersey, according to the N.J. State Police Office of Drug Monitoring and Analysis.

The count of conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin with which each defendant is charged is punishable by a minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI’s Safe Streets South Jersey Violent Incident and Gang Task Force, Atlantic City Resident Agency, and FBI, Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ehrie; officers of the Atlantic City Police Department, under the direction of Chief White; the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Damon Tyner; the Atlantic County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Eric Scheffler; and the Pleasantville Police Department, under the direction of Chief Sean Riggin, with the investigation leading to today’s charges. He also thanked the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; and the N.J. State Police for their assistance.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Martha K. Nye of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden.

This case was 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 charges and allegations contained in the complaints are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

DEFENDANTS



NAME





AGE





RESIDENCE





Khalif Toombs





29





Pleasantville, N.J.





Wilbert Toombs





63





Atlantic City





*Blaine Dorsey





54





Atlantic City





Dean Johnson





39





Atlantic City





Mayda Hernandez





50





Atlantic City





Joseph Aversa





37





Ventnor, N.J.





David Ramirez





23





Mays Landing, N.J.





James Blackwell





54





Atlantic City





Khalif Davis





33





Mays Landing





Wayne Burnside





28





Atlantic City





Jeremy Carll





47





Mays Landing





Sarah Taliaferro





26





Brigantine, N.J.





Philip Surace





32





Atlantic City





Valarie Lamar





59





Atlantic City





Karon Carey





35





Atlantic City





*Thomas Randall





25





Mays Landing.





Nasir Brown





26





Somers Point





Tieyesha Tucker





25





Atlantic City





Jamal Marshall





32





Atlantic City





**Quadir Stanley





30





Atlantic City





Tyjuan Demarest





39





Elmwood Park, N.J.





Terryn Kelsey





29





Atlantic City



*Denotes at large

**Denotes in state custody