Absecon Doctor, Galloway Resident Among 7 Indicted for Alleged Drug Trafficking

An Absecon doctor and six other Atlantic County residents, including one from Galloway, have been indicted for illegal prescription-drug distribution, Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain announced Thursday evening.

Detectives of the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and the Absecon Police Department executed four search warrants on April 22 and arrested six people. The seventh was arrested on July 8.

During the investigation, law enforcement recovered about 1,000 oxycodone pills that were allegedly either purchased or fraudulently prescribed and numerous fraudulent prescription scripts.

The following people were arrested on April 22:

• Doctor Alan H. Faustino, 48, of the 100 block of West Church Street, Absecon, N.J. Faustino was lodged in the Atlantic County Justice Facility in lieu of $100,000 full cash bail set by Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Bernard DeLury. The State of New Jersey has temporarily suspended his license. The DEA suspended his right to issue prescriptions.
• Jason A. Cylc, 38, of the 200 block of 33rd Street, Brigantine, N.J. Cylc was lodged in the Atlantic County Justice Facility in lieu of $150,000 full cash bail set by Brigantine Court Administrator Merrillee Carlson.
• Claudio L. Valentin, 33, of the 100 block of Crystal Lake Drive, Egg Harbor Township, N.J. Valentin was charged and released on his own recognizance pending court.
• Kara Minchin, 27 – 100 block of West Church Street, Absecon, N.J. Minchin was lodged in the Atlantic County Justice Facility in lieu of $30,000 full cash bail set by Brigantine Court Administrator, Merrillee Carlson.
• Ashley L. Channell, 26, of the 300 block of Upland Avenue, Galloway, N.J. Channell was charged and released on her own recognizance pending court.
• Stephen Sklar, 67, of the 200 block of New Hampshire Avenue, Atlantic City, N.J. Sklar was charged and released on his own recognizance pending court.

Jeffrey I. Millman, 55, of the 1200 block of North Michigan Avenue, Atlantic City, was arrested on July 8. Millman was charged and released on his own recognizance pending court.

On Thursday, an Atlantic County Grand Jury returned a 31 count criminal indictment.

Faustino was indicted on 10 counts, including for allegedly being a leader of a narcotics trafficking network, a crime of the first degree. A conviction for this crime carries a potential penalty of life imprisonment during which the person must serve 25 years before becoming eligible for parole.

Fasutino, Cylc, Valentin and Sklar were all indicted for conspiracy to distribute the controlled dangerous substance roxycodonem, a second degree crime; conspiracy to distribute the CDS oxycodone, a second degree crime; and conspiracy to distribute the CDS xanax, a third degree crime.

Faustino was also indicted for 6 more crimes, alleged to have been committed on various dates: three counts each of possession with intent to distribute oxycodone, and possession of oxycodone, all third degree crimes.

Cylc was indicted for 10 more crimes, alleged to have been committed on various dates: possession with intent to distribute more than 1 ounce of the CDS roxycodone, a second degree crime; six counts of possession with intent to distribute less than 1 ounce of the CDS roxycodone, a third degree crime; two counts of possession of the CDS roxycodone, third degree crime; and conspiracy to distribute the CDS roxycodone, a third degree crime.

Sklar was indicted for 7 more crimes, alleged to have been committed on various dates: possession with intent to distribute more than 1 ounce of the CDS roxycodone, a second degree crime; 3 counts of possession with intent to distribute less than 1 ounce of the CDS roxycodone, a third degree crime; 2 counts of possession of the CDS roxycodone, a third degree crime; and conspiracy to distribute the CDS roxycodone, a third degree crime.

Channell was indicted for two counts of possession of the CDS oxycodone, and 1 count each of possession of a CDS: roxycodone with intent to distribute in a school zone, possession of the CDS roxycodone, and conspiracy to distribute roxycodone, all third degree crimes.

Millman was indicted for possession of the CDS roxycodone with intent to distribute, possession of the CDS roxycodone, and conspiracy to distribute the CDS roxycodone, all third degree crimes.

Minchin was indicted for possession of the CDS oxycodone with intent to distribute and possession of the CDS oxycodone, third degree crimes.

A conviction for a second degree crime carries the potential penalty of 5-10 years of incarceration in New Jersey State Prison; a third degree conviction carries the potential penalty of 3-5 years of imprisonment.