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Violent NJ Human Trafficking Rings Dismantled Where Women, Teens Were Forced Into Sex: AG
Seven people have been arrested in the dismantling two human trafficking rings, one in North Jersey and one in South Jersey, authorities said.
The rings were based in Essex County and Cumberland County, state Attorney General Matthew Platkin said at a news conference on Tuesday, Dec. 3.
Khailah Meekins, 21 and Donte Barkley, 28, both Newark residents, trafficked two 15-year-olds and a 13-year-old in Essex County, Platkin said. Meekins and Barkley arranged sexual encounters for the girls through mobile apps that included online ads featuring nude photos of the minors. The girls would be…
Home Invasion Convict Who Sold Fentanyl, Meth At Atlantic City Hotel Sentenced: Prosecutors
An Absecon man serving more than half a century for a violent home invasion was additionally sentenced for running a drug ring out of an Atlantic City hotel, authorities said.
Michael Hayes, 47, was given an eight-year state prison sentence on Tuesday, Nov. 12 for second-degree conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office said in a news release on Wednesday, Nov. 20. The sentence will run concurrently with the 60-year term he's serving for a September 2020 home invasion.
The drug charges stem from a Sunday, Dec. 16, 2020, search of Hayes’ secon…
Child Overdosed On Cocaine, South Jersey Drug Dealer Federally Charged: Prosecutors
A Maple Shade man was accused of selling drugs after bringing an overdosing child to a hospital, authorities said.
Daniel Garcia Jr., 27, was charged with possession with intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine and possession of firearms by a convicted felon, New Jersey's U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said in a news release on Tuesday, Sept. 24.
According to court documents and statements, Garcia and another person rushed the child to the hospital on Sunday, June 23. The child wasn't breathing, was having seizures, was drooling, and was unresponsive.
Afte…
Five Arrested In Heroin, Cocaine, Meth Bust In Ocean County: Prosecutors
Five people from Ocean County were accused of selling heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine, authorities said.
The five were taken into custody during a month-long investigation into drug dealing, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release on Friday, Sept. 20. Investigators identified a home on Bear Hollow Court in Little Egg Harbor used for the drug sales and established surveillance.
John Pecoreno, 40, and Elysia Sullins, 23, both of Little Egg Harbor, were seen leaving the home and driving away from the area on Friday, September 6. Investigators contin…
Barnegat Drug Dealer With Stolen Gun Sentenced, Prosecutors Say
A Barnegat Township man will spend several years in prison after admitting to having heroin, cocaine, and a stolen gun, authorities said.
Quaison Ellis, 25, was sentenced on Friday, Sept. 13 to 10 years in state prison, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release. He pleaded guilty on Monday, July 15 to several charges related to two incidents.
Investigators established surveillance outside a home on Hawthorne Lane in Barnegat on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. Ellis was seen leaving the home and then entered a vehicle's front passenger seat.
Detectives fol…
$1.1M In Drugs, 5 Firearms, $65K Seized From NJ Man, Prosecutor Says
A 35-year-old Mercer County man is facing a slew of charges after investigators uncovered $1.1 million in drugs, five handguns, and $65,000 in cash from him, authorities said.
James Nalbone Jr., 35, of Hamilton Township, was arrested on Wednesday, Aug. 7, following a month-long investigation, Acting Mercer County Prosecutor Theresa L. Hilton said.
Detectives detained Nalbone at his home on Byron Avenue and executed a search warrant, Hilton said. Sgt. Tom Paglione's K-9 partner, Indy, gave positive indications of a drug odor at multiple locations within the premises, poli…
Four Arrested After Heroin, Cocaine, Ghost Gun Parts Found In Atlantic City Motel Room: Police
Four people were arrested after they were accused of having heroin, crack cocaine, and ghost gun parts in an Atlantic City motel room, authorities said.
Atlantic City police executed a drug search warrant at the motel on the 3000 block of Pacific Avenue on Wednesday, July 24, the department said in a news release. Officers found 226 white wax folds of suspected heroin, about 35 grams of suspected crack cocaine, and seven clear plastic bags of suspected marijuana.
Investigators also seized suboxone, several types of drug paraphernalia, and $3,025 in cash. The raid also uncovered tw…
Man Who Sold Heroin, Fentanyl, Cocaine In Atlantic City Sentenced: Prosecutors
An Atlantic City man will spend several years in prison after admitting to selling heroin mixed with fentanyl and cocaine, authorities said.
Nahjajuan Ellis, 23, was sentenced on Monday, July 22 to 10 years in state prison, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office announced the plea in a news release. He'll have to serve three-and-a-half years before he's eligible for parole under the Graves Act.
Investigators said Atlantic City police executed a search warrant at an apartment on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. When officers arrived, they arrested Ellis as he was leaving through the front…
Woman Sentenced For Using Son In Marijuana, Mushroom 'Business' On Jersey Shore: Prosecutors
A Somers Point woman will spend several years in prison after admitting to using her teen son to sell marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms through an unlicensed business promoted on Facebook, authorities said.
Donna Shiffler, 40, was sentenced on Tuesday, July 9 to five years in state prison, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said in a news release. She pleaded guilty on Tuesday, Apr. 30 to first-degree employing a juvenile, first-degree possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, first-degree maintaining a production facility, and second-degree endangering the welfare of a…
Again: Big Purple Bud Bus Guy, Woman Arrested After Series Of Raids Across NJ, NY, Cops Say
The New York owner of a popular cannabis company known for its fleet of purple buses and vans was taken into custody, as was a woman, on Wednesday, July 10, following a series of raids across New Jersey and New York, authorities said.
Searches on Bill Schlette’s Bud Bus Inc. locations Hewitt, Manahawkin, Keyport, and West Nyack, NY turned up $200,000 in cash, according to West Milford Police Capt. Parrello.
Back in May, West Milford police executed search warrants at five Bud Bus locations in town where 150 pounds of marijuana were seized, along with $11,000 in cash, police said. A warrant …
Three Men Accused Of Selling Cocaine, Suboxone, Prescription Pills In Atlantic City: Police
Three Atlantic City men were accused of selling cocaine, suboxone, and prescription pills, authorities said.
Atlantic City police arrested 60-year-old Ricky Bailey, 37-year-old Floyd Spencer, and 22-year-old Christian Mateo, the department said in a news release on Thursday, June 27. The men were taken into custody by the department's special investigations section in two separate incidents on Tuesday, June 25.
Bailey was arrested on the 1800 block of Hummock Avenue after officers saw him making a drug deal. The other two men were taken into custody on the first block of Sout…
South Jersey Man Admits To Racist Amazon Driver Threats, Illegally Growing Weed: Prosecutor
A Lacey Township man admitted to racist threats against an Amazon driver and illegally selling large amounts of marijuana, authorities said.
John Vincentini, 64, pleaded guilty in two separate cases on Friday, June 7, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release. He and his wife, 64-year-old Karen Vincentini, have been held in the Ocean County Jail since March.
John Vincentini pleaded guilty to bias intimidation after he was indicted back in June 2023. He was accused of threatening an Amazon delivery driver on Monday, Sept. 5, 2022.
Investi…
Man Found With Heroin, Meth, Cocaine, $333K In South Jersey Home: Prosecutors
A Brick Township man was accused of selling several types of drugs throughout Ocean County, authorities said.
Brandon O'Shea, 40, was facing 13 drug-related charges after a two-month investigation, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer announced in a news release on Thursday, May 30. Investigators identified a Brick Township home that O'Shea used to store cocaine and marijuana for drug sales.
The county prosecutor's office, along with police from Brick Township and Point Pleasant Beach, established surveillance on the home on Thursday, May 9. Officers pulled O'Shea over in his vehi…
