Fifth Man Pleads Guilty In Mercer County Drug Trafficking Ring, Authorities Say

A Mercer County man has admitted to possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon and participating in a drug trafficking organization that allegedly distributed hundreds of grams of heroin in the Trenton area, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick said this week.

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.

Proctor was one of 10 people arrested in connection with the “Abdullah DTO,” an alleged drug trafficking organization that operated in the area of Spring and Passaic streets in Trenton, in December. The group was named after its alleged leader Ishmael Abdullah, a/k/a “Ish,” a/k/a “Gangsta,” a/k/a “Papi,” of Trenton. The group operated from June of 2015 until December of 2016.

Proctor is the fifth person to plead guilty.

Bernadino Guervil, a/k/a “BG,” 29, of Trenton, pleaded guilty to an information charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin.

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.

In addition to receiving, possessing, and selling heroin as part of the conspiracy, Proctor – a previously convicted felon – was arrested on Aug. 23, 2016, by Trenton police officers in possession of a loaded Glock 27 semi-automatic handgun and multiple rounds of ammunition.

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 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 carries a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison, and a $5 million fine. The firearms possession charge carries a maximum potential sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 26.

Patch file photo