Drug Trafficking Organization's Ringleader Pleads Guilty: Authorities

It appears as though the ring leader is coming clean. Ishmael Abdullah, a/k/a “Ish,” a/k/a “Gangsta,” a/k/a “Papi,” 27, of Trenton, pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on Wednesday, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced.

Abdullah stands accused of leading the “Abdullah DTO,” an alleged drug trafficking organization that operated in the area of Spring and Passaic streets in Trenton. In December of 2016 he and nine other members of the drug trafficking organization were charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute heroin. Abdullah is the sixth person to plead guilty to the charges he faced.

He also admitted knowingly possessing a SCCY Industries CPX-2 firearm, according to Fitzpatrick. Abdullah is a previously convicted felon. Abdullah is the sixth person to plead guilty to the charges he faced.

Also on Wednesday, Bernadino Guervil, 29, a/k/a “BG,” was sentenced to three and a half years in prison and three years of supervised release. Guervil previously pleaded guilty to an information charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin.

In June, Christopher Proctor, a/k/a “Bris,” a/k/a “Bris Broctor,” 22, of Trenton, pleaded guilty to a two-count information charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Thomas Rogers, a/k/a “Herb,” a/k/a “T-Rod,” 23, of Trenton, pleaded guilty to a separate information charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin.

Keith Hunter, a/k/a “Meech,” 24, of Trenton, pleaded guilty to an information charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin.

Elijah Abdullah, a/k/a “Uncle E,” a/k/a “E,” 21, of Trenton, pleaded guilty to an information charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin. Abdullah also admitted to possessing one or more guns during the conspiracy.

As part of their guilty pleas, Elijah Abdullah, Hunter and Rogers all admitted possessing at least one firearm during the conspiracy, according to Fitzpatrick.

Through the authorized interception of telephone calls and text messages, controlled purchases of heroin, the use of confidential sources of information, and other investigative means, law enforcement say they learned that Ishmael Abdullah was a leader of the group. He was in charge of obtaining significant quantities of heroin from multiple suppliers, authorities said.

Ishmael Abdullah and Hunter coordinated the organization’s distribution of heroin to the other conspirators, who sold and stored the drugs, according to authorities. Members of the Abdullah DTO spoke in code and used stash houses, cars, and temporary prepaid phones to avoid detection by law enforcement, authorities said. In connection with their narcotics distribution, authorities said members of the Abdullah DTO also maintained joint access to firearms.

Authorities allege members of the Abdullah DTO sold prepackaged “bricks” of heroin, which contained approximately one gram, and “bundles” of heroin, which contained approximately one-fifth of a gram, to various other distributors, sub-dealers, and end users in Trenton and surrounding areas.

Law enforcement officials say they captured discussions about drug quality, consumer satisfaction, pricing, quantity, and the nature of the organization’s drug distribution business, including the storage and accessibility of firearms, on calls and text messages intercepted during the investigation.

The conspiracy charge to which Abdullah pleaded guilty carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum potential sentence of 40 years in prison, and a $5 million fine. The firearms charge carries a maximum potential sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 27.

Patch file photo