MAYS LANDING – Following a six month long investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office in conjunction with the DEA – Atlantic City Residence Office of the Liberty Atlantic High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), into a narcotics distribution network initiative six individuals have been arrested and charged with narcotics and weapons offenses, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner announced.
“The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office is grateful for the resources that are available to our community through our membership in the Liberty Atlantic HIDTA. Collaborating with the DEA and other local law enforcement agencies give us a force multiplier in our efforts to reduce the amount of guns and drugs in our community. Our goal is to disrupt the criminal activity at a higher level before it ever reaches our streets. Thank you to all of our partners,” said Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner.
Police say the Liberty Mid-Atlantic HIDTA, Atlantic County Division, executed six search warrants in Atlantic City, NJ and one in Lindenwold, NJ. The search warrants were the culmination of a six-month investigation by the Atlantic County HIDTA into a narcotics distribution network.
Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division, Susan A. Gibson said, “This was a very successful operation. Any time we can take people off the street involved in drugs and weapons is a benefit to the community. This type of investigation is why Atlantic County is part of the Liberty Mid-Atlantic HIDTA, and we look forward to continuing our partnerships.”
During the course of the investigation the following items were recovered:
Approximately 2,890 bags of heroin
3 pounds of marijuana
Four handguns
Extended handgun magazines
Various firearm ammunition
A large amount of United States Currency was seized along with several vehicles utilized during the commission of the crimes
**The following individuals were charged and lodged in the Atlantic County Justice Facility:**
**Felix Beltran Sr., 38:**
2C: 39-4.1A- ( Three Counts) Possession of a firearm during the commission of a narcotics violation, 2nd Degree
2C: 39-4A(2)- (Two Counts) Possession of a community gun, 2nd Degree
2C: 39-39-3J- Possession of a large capacity ammunition magazine, 4th Degree
2C: 39-7A- Possession of a stolen firearm, 3rd Degree
2C: 35-5A(1)- (Two Counts) Possession with the intent to distribute narcotics, 3rd Degree
2C: 35-7- (Two Counts) Possession of narcotics within 1000 feet of a school zone, 3rd Degree
2C: 5-2(A)- (Three Counts) Conspiracy, 2nd Degree
2C: 35-10A(1)- Possession of marijuana, 3rd Degree
2C: 35-10A(1)- Possession of cocaine, 3rd degree
**Kenneth Thompson Jr., 20:**
2C: 39-4.1A- ( Three Counts) Possession of a firearm during the commission of a narcotics violation, 2nd Degree
2C: 39-4A(2)- (Two Counts) Possession of a community gun, 2nd Degree
2C: 39-39-3J- Possession of a large capacity ammunition magazine, 4th Degree
2C: 39-7A- Possession of a stolen firearm, 3rd Degree
2C: 35-5A(1)- (Two Counts) Possession with the intent to distribute narcotics, 3rd Degree
2C: 35-7- (Two Counts) Possession of narcotics within 1000 feet of a school zone, 3rd Degree
2C: 5-2(A)- (Three Counts) Conspiracy, 2nd Degree
2C: 35-10A(1)- Possession of marijuana, 3rd Degree
2C: 35-10A(1)- Possession of cocaine, 3rd degree
**Felix Beltran Jr., 21:**
2C: 39-4.1A- ( Three Counts) Possession of a firearm during the commission of a narcotics violation, 2nd Degree
2C: 39-4A(2)- (Two Counts) Possession of a community gun, 2nd Degree
2C: 39-39-3J- Possession of a large capacity ammunition magazine, 4th Degree
2C: 39-7A- Possession of a stolen firearm, 3rd Degree
2C: 35-5A(1)- (Two Counts) Possession with the intent to distribute narcotics, 3rd Degree
2C: 35-7- (Two Counts) Possession of narcotics within 1000 feet of a school zone, 3rd Degree
2C: 5-2(A)- (Three Counts) Conspiracy, 2nd Degree
2C: 35-10A(1)- Possession of marijuana, 3rd Degree
2C: 35-10A(1)- Possession of cocaine, 3rd degree
**Eric Williams, 21:**
2C: 39-4.1A- ( Three Counts) Possession of a firearm during the commission of a narcotics violation, 2nd Degree
2C: 39-4A(2)- (Two Counts) Possession of a community gun, 2nd Degree
2C: 39-39-3J- Possession of a large capacity ammunition magazine, 4th Degree
2C: 39-7A- Possession of a stolen firearm, 3rd Degree
2C: 35-5A(1)- (Two Counts) Possession with the intent to distribute narcotics, 3rd Degree
2C: 35-7- (Two Counts) Possession of narcotics within 1000 feet of a school zone, 3rd Degree
2C: 5-2(A)- (Three Counts) Conspiracy, 2nd Degree
2C: 35-10A(1)- Possession of marijuana, 3rd Degree
2C: 35-10A(1)- Possession of cocaine, 3rd degree
**The following individuals were charged on a summons and released:**
**Chinkume Cannon, 37:**
2C: 35-5B(11)- Possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, 3rd Degree
2C: 35-10A(3)- Possession of marijuana, 4th degree
2C: 5-2A(1)- Conspiracy to distribute marijuana, 3rd degree
**Kareem Ellerbee, 21:**
2C:35-10A(1)- Possession of heroin, 3rd Degree
2C: 35-5A(1)- Distribution of heroin, 3rd degree
Several police agencies in Atlantic and Cape May counties assisted in the investigation.