Department of Justice

TRENTON, N.J. – Federal criminal charges have been filed against 31 individuals for their roles as members, associates, and suppliers of multiple drug-trafficking conspiracies that distributed cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin in the Burlington County, New Jersey, area, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today.

Twenty-eight defendants were arrested today, one was already in state custody, and two remain at large. Those arrested today are scheduled to have their initial appearances this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Arpert in Trenton federal court. (See chart below.)

The first complaint charges 20 defendants in two overlapping drug conspiracies involving the distribution of cocaine and crack cocaine in the Burlington County area. This organization is allegedly operated by Herbert Mays of Willingboro, New Jersey.

The second complaint charges 12 defendants with three interrelated drug conspiracies involving the distribution of cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin. Talib Conway of Philadelphia is described in the complaint as a leading member of this organization. One defendant, Teron Huggins, is charged in both complaints.

“The defendants charged in this case were responsible for moving large quantities of dangerous drugs through the streets of Burlington County and elsewhere,” U.S. Attorney Carpenito said. “Taking this number of people off the street required a massive and coordinated effort by our office and other federal and state law enforcement organizations. These arrests should go a long way toward making our streets safer.”

“The success of today’s operation is largely attributed to the close working relationship between federal, state, and local law enforcement,” FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Gregory W. Ehrie, Newark, said. “This collaborative effort to address violent, drug traffickers within our local communities is just one example of how highly the FBI values its partners. To them, I would like to say ‘thank you’ for trusting us, lending their support, and playing a critical role making our community safer. To the criminal element that escaped arrest this time around – know that we aren't finished.”

“Today's arrests are a testament to ATF's commitment to stand with our local, state, and federal partners to expend every resource available to make our communities safer,” ATF Special Agent in Charge Charlie J. Patterson said. “Arresting criminals that contribute to the violence in our communities will continue to be ATF's top priority.”

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

Between July 2019 and September 2019, the defendants and others engaged in multiple and overlapping narcotics conspiracies that operated primarily throughout Burlington County – including Willingboro, Burlington City, Burlington Township, Bordentown Township, Edgewater Park, Pemberton and Mount Laurel – and which sought to profit from the distribution of cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin. Through the interception of telephone calls and text messages pursuant to court-authorized wiretap orders, and other investigative techniques, law enforcement learned that defendants obtained regular supplies of cocaine from conspirators in the Philadelphia area, then redistributed that cocaine, portions of which defendants converted into crack cocaine, to distributors, sub-dealers, and end-users throughout Burlington County and elsewhere. During the wiretap portion of the investigation, law enforcement intercepted numerous communications among the conspirators discussing cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin quality and availability, pricing, packaging, quantity, and customer satisfaction.

The counts of conspiracy to distribute at least five kilos of cocaine carry a maximum penalty of life in prison and a fine of $1 million. The counts of conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine carry a maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a maximum fine of $10 million. The counts of conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin carry a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison and a fine of $5 million. The counts of conspiracy to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine carry a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison and a fine of $5 million.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, Newark Division, Trenton Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie; special agents of ATF, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Charlie J. Patterson; detectives of the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina; officers of the Burlington Township Police Department, under the direction of Director of Public Safety Bruce Painter; officers of the Willingboro Police Department, under the direction of Director of Public Safety Kinamo Lomon; officers of the Burlington City Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police John Fine; officers of the Florence Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Brian Boldizar; officers of the Bordentown Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Brian Pesche; officers of the Edgewater Park Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Robert Hess; officers of the Mount Laurel Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Stephen Riedner; officers of the Ewing Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police John Stemler; officers of the Westampton Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Stephen Ent; officers of the Trenton Police Department, under the direction of Director Sheilah Coley, with the investigation leading to the charges.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Martha K. Nye and Ray Mateo of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.

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

*denotes at large

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