An investigation by the state police's Human Trafficking Unit investigated the activities of a human trafficking ring operating across multiple counties in New Jersey, including Middlesex, Ocean, Camden, and Burlington, Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said.
Shalaby Hicks, a Pennsauken resident and Nathaniel Clay, a Mount Laurel resident, ran a human trafficking “program” in which women they employed engaged in commercial sex acts on their behalf and provided them with all the money they earned, Davenport said.
In exchange, Hicks and Clay allegedly paid for their lodging, food, other necessities, transportation, and controlled dangerous substances, Davenport said. In addition to the human trafficking enterprise, Hicks and Clay also dealt narcotics, Davenport said.
The criminal enterprise found clients by posting advertisements of the women for commercial sex acts on websites such as skipthegames.com and megapersonals.eu. The enterprise forced the victims to post online advertisements of themselves, Davenport said.
The victims of the human trafficking enterprise were expected to provide narcotics if they had clients who wanted to purchase it, Davenport said. Hicks would purchase narcotics from his suppliers and bring it back to various hotels where he was staying where he would cook the cocaine into crack cocaine, and bag it for distribution, Davenport said.
Hicks controlled the portion of the enterprise operating out of a hotel in Pennsauken. Hicks used female and male managers who were responsible for handling the narcotics and money on site, as well as enforcing the rules of Hicks’ program, Davenport said.
Amber Temean, a Mount Laurle resident, Eleana Kuzel, a Ventnor resident, Shawn Williams, a Lindenwold resident and Kelley Plotts, a Stratford resident served as managers, while Deena Turner, a Delanco resident assisted in photographing and posting online commercial sex advertisements for Hicks’ victims, Davenport said.
Clay controlled the portion of the enterprise operating out of a hotel in Maple Shade, Davenport said. He used male managers, Richard Wood, a Burlington resident and Raymond Edness, a Mount Holly resident, who provided transportation, drugs, and protection on site, Davenport. At the time of arrest, Clay was armed with a handgun, Davenport said.
On Thursday, May 7, a search warrant was executed for a hotel room associated with Hicks and his operation. Approximately 7.79 ounces of suspected crack cocaine, five ounces of fentanyl, and 3.77 ounces of methamphetamine were seized, along with drug paraphernalia and $5,000 in cash, Davenport said.
Search warrants were also executed at three residences and two additional hotels, which lead to the recovery of 15 victims, Davenport said.
Anthony Hicks Simms, a Camden resident and Bernard Dandridge, a Sicklerville resident were allegedly cocaine suppliers for the enterprise. Hicks obtained the powdered cocaine and cooked it into crack-cocaine, which was supplied to all the victims, Davenport said. Dandridge also used his residence to manufacture cocaine, Davenport said.. At the time of his arrest, he was allegedly in possession of 14 ounces of cocaine, two handguns, and an assault ghost gun rifle, Davenport said.
The 13 arrested face various charges including racketeering, conspiracy, human trafficking and drug charges in connection with the criminal operation, Davenport said.
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