NEWARK, N.J. – A Newark man was convicted today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute heroin and crack cocaine, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Cory Canzater, a/k/a, “Big C,” 47, of Newark, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled dangerous substances, one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute heroin and one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine. Canzater was convicted following a one-week trial before U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty in Newark federal court. The jury deliberated 30 minutes before returning the guilty verdicts.

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

From May 2017 through June 2017, Canzater engaged in a heroin and crack cocaine distribution conspiracy that operated in and around Newark, led by Ahmad Johnson, a/k/a “OC,” 40, of Newark. Other members of the conspiracy included Maurice McPhatter, a/k/a “Ree,” Willie McPhatter, a/k/a “Roc,” Keith Henderson, and Sacha Negron, all of Newark. 

Through the authorized interception of telephone calls and text messages, controlled purchases of heroin, the use of confidential sources of information, and other investigative means, law enforcement learned that Canzater was a member of a conspiracy led by Johnson, who was responsible for obtaining wholesale amounts of drugs, including heroin and cocaine, and processing and packaging the drugs for sale in and around Newark.

Johnson pleaded guilty to a drug conspiracy and was sentenced on April 15, 2019, to 180 months in prison. Maurice McPhatter, Willie McPhatter, Henderson, and Negron have all pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy charges and are awaiting sentencing. 

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 conspiracy charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of life years in prison, and a $10 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for July 22, 2020.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson in Newark; special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Charlie J. Patterson in Newark; the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II, and the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose, with the investigation leading to the guilty verdicts. He also thanked the Fairfield Police Department; Bloomfield Police Department; Irvington Police Department; Roselle Police Department; Linden Police Department; Rockaway Township Police Department; and the Irvington Police Department for their assistance.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia Astorga of the Opioids Unit and Ari B. Fontecchio of the Economic Crimes unit.

NEWARK, N.J. – Federal law enforcement authorities today took custody of the last of seven members of a drug trafficking organization that allegedly distributed over a kilogram of heroin and other narcotics in Newark and the surrounding areas, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Carlos Velasquez, a/k/a “Birdie,” 39, of Newark, is charged by complaint with conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin. Velasquez, who was in state custody on unrelated charges, appeared this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer in Newark federal court and was detained.

According to the complaint:

From September 2016 through June 2017, Velasquez and others engaged in a heroin distribution conspiracy that operated in and around Newark.

Through the authorized interception of telephone calls and text messages, controlled purchases of heroin, the use of confidential sources of information, and other investigative means, law enforcement officers learned that Ahmad Johnson, a/k/a “OC,” 38, of Newark, was a leader of the conspiracy and was responsible for obtaining wholesale amounts of narcotics, including heroin and cocaine, and processing and packaging the narcotics for sale in and around Newark. Velasquez was an alleged heroin and cocaine dealer who got his narcotics from Johnson.

At times, after the narcotics were processed and packaged for sale, Johnson found users to “test” the narcotics to evaluate the quality, potency, and danger for broader distribution. After the narcotics were tested, members of drug trafficking organization sold the narcotics to other distributors and users in and around Newark. 

During the takedown, law enforcement officers conducted a series of search warrants and found over a kilogram of heroin, over 200 grams of crack cocaine, and over 150 grams of fentanyl.

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

The complaint charges six other defendants with conspiracy to distribute heroin. Johnson, Sacha Negron, 33, and Keith Henderson, 46, all of Newark, were arrested in June 2017. Cory Canzater, 45, and Willie McPhatter, 46, both of Newark, were arrested in September 2017. Willie McPhatter’s brother, Maurice McPhatter, 45, of Newark, was arrested Feb. 8, 2018. Negron, Henderson, Canzater, and Willie McPhatter are out on bail. Johnson and Henderson remain in custody.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New Jersey Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Valerie A. Nickerson in Newark.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ari B. Fontecchio of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Newark.

The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Defense counsel: Michael A. Armstrong Esq., Willingboro, New Jersey