2 Men Admit To Leadership Roles In Deadly South Jersey Gang: Feds

Two people have admitted to their roles as top-level managers in a violent drug gang that sold a large amount of illegal drugs in South Jersey, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Ronnie Lopez, 45 of Pennsauken, and Nelson Salcedo, 41 of Camden, have pleaded guilty to their roles in managing a drug trafficking conspiracy that was based on the 500 block of Pine Street in Camden and resulted in at least two fatal overdoses, according to authorities.

Lopez pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin, crack cocaine, cocaine and fentanyl. Salcedo pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin, crack cocaine and cocaine.

Lopez and Salcedo are the first of 19 defendants who were charged in this case in November 2018 to plead guilty. Charges against the other defendants remain pending, and they remain considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Read more: 19 Arrested In Deadly South Jersey Gang Bust

In all, at least 280 grams of cocaine base, at least one kilogram of heroin, and other quantities of cocaine and fentanyl were sold as part of the conspiracy, according to authorities.

The operation launched in November 2016, and for about two years, authorities say the gang made a large amount of illegal drugs, including heroin, cocaine and fentanyl, readily available to customers in Camden.

Dealers would deliver the narcotics in shady business dealings with customers who approached in cars, others on foot, according to authorities. Some were sold to drug dealers in other areas.

They used guns to further their dealings. The operation launched in the 1900 block of Filmore Street, but police began to focus on that area in April 2017 after a fatal drug-involved shooting, according to documents filed in the case. The operation then moved to the 400-500 blocks of Pine Street.

Lopez gathered bulk quantities of the illegal drugs to be sold, authorities said. Salcedo and 45-year-old Carlos Perez, of Collingswood, would then take those drugs and package them to be sold to customers, according to authorities.

Juan Figueroa, 21 of Camden, and Paul Salcedo, 28, of Camden, were among the "runners or managers" authorities said sent those packages down to "shift managers," like 26-year-old Jose Diaz and 28-year-old Christopher Velazquez, both of Camden.

The "shift managers" supervised the organization's set workers (listed below), who sold the drugs directly to customers, authorities allege. The set workers then gave the money to the "shift managers," and the money continued its way back up the chain to the organization's leaders.

Figueroa, Alexander DeJesus, of Philadelphia, and Ammar Hall, of Camden, were all arrested last summer after an attack on what were previously described as two undercover Camden County police officers. They were in plain clothes and driving an unmarked car. They were parked at a stop light at the intersection of Broadway and Walnut streets in Camden at about 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 7, when they were approached by a van.

Two men got out of the van and fired 25 rounds at them in seven seconds. One of the officers fired back, and the men in the van, which was recovered the same night, fled. The three men were all captured in less than one week's time.

Read more here: Final 2 Suspects In NJ Cop Shooting Captured: Police

It was later revealed that these officers were conducting surveillance on this organization as part of an FBI-led investigation. That investigation included the use of surveillance, confidential informants, consensual recordings, multiple controlled drug purchases, record checks, a GPS vehicle tracker, and several court-authorized wiretaps.

In addition to those already named, the following people were charged with participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy:

• Ramon Velez, 43, of Camden;
• David Velez, 30, of Camden;
• Waldemar Garcia, 33, of Camden;
• Naeem Sadler, 18, of Camden;
• Kaliel Johnson, 26, of Camden;
• Jasmin Velez, 25, of Camden;
• Elisa Rivera, 28, of Camden;
• Meylin Troncoso, 31, of Camden;
• Dwight Williams, 27, of Mount Holly;
• William Carrillo, 44, of Camden;
• Jose Agron, 25, of Camden; and
• Jameel Byng, 25, of Camden.

The counts to which Lopez and Salcedo pleaded guilty carry a mandatory penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a $10 million fine.