By: Richard L. Smith
A Georgia man has admitted his role in a series of federal crimes involving the distribution of thousands of fentanyl pills in New Jersey, a scheme involving more than $1.2 million in stolen U.S. Treasury checks and a fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loan.
According to U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer, 51-year-old Elvis Sonson of Atlanta pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb to charges of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud.
Federal prosecutors said that over several months in 2024, Sonson distributed pills containing fentanyl, including transactions conducted in Camden.
Court documents showed that Sonson admitted distributing pills in person in Camden, mailing pills to the city and directing a co-conspirator to distribute additional pills.
In total, authorities said Sonson acknowledged distributing more than 2,000 pills weighing more than 730 grams.
During the same period, prosecutors said Sonson worked with others to sell or attempt to sell U.S. Treasury checks that had been stolen from the mail.
The group allegedly intended for the stolen checks to be negotiated at banks. As part of the conspiracy, Sonson admitted offering to sell stolen Treasury checks valued at more than $1.2 million.
Federal authorities said Sonson was also involved in a separate fraud targeting the Paycheck Protection Program, which was established to provide forgivable loans to qualifying small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sonson admitted obtaining a $325,215 PPP loan after submitting an application claiming that a company he owned in Piscataway had 21 employees and a monthly payroll exceeding $130,000.
Prosecutors said those claims were false.
The application also included a fraudulent tax return, and authorities said the business actually had no employees other than Sonson and no payroll.
The fentanyl conspiracy charge carries a maximum potential sentence of 20 years in federal prison. The bank fraud and bank fraud conspiracy charges each carry maximum potential sentences of 30 years.
Sonson is scheduled to be sentenced on December 16, 2026.