Couple Pleads Guilty In Large Scale Trafficking Ring Involving Galloway Man: Authorities

An Atlantic City couple has admitted to their respective roles in drug trafficking and money laundering in the Atlantic County area, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced on Wednesday.

Toye Tutis, 44, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, crack cocaine and heroin.

Tutis and Jazmin Vega, 42, each pled guilty to one count of conspiring to launder the money Tutis made from selling drugs.

From 2010 through December of 2014, Tutis ran a large-scale drug trafficking ring out of the Ta’Ja Laundromat in Atlantic City, according to documents filed in the case and statements made in court.

Tutis bought and sold between 150 and 450 kilograms of cocaine and about 26 kilograms of heroin.
With Vega’s help, Tutis also laundered between $1.5 and $3 million in drug proceeds.

Vega admitted to helping Tutis in various ways, including through the couple’s various businesses – Ta’Ja Construction I LLC; Ta’Ja Real Estate Investors LLC; and Integrity Heating and Cooling LLC; and by purchasing more than 30 properties with tainted funds.

As part of their plea agreements, Vega and Tutis have to forfeit 20 properties, cash and other assets.
The drug trafficking conspiracy count to which Tutis pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of life in prison and a fine of $10 million.

The money laundering count to which Tutis and Vega both pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $500,000.

Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 17, 2017.

Nine other people have pleaded guilty to participating in the drug trafficking conspiracy or other related drug trafficking in the Atlantic County area, including:

• Kabaka Atiba, 46, of Atlantic City, sentencing scheduled for Jan. 20, 2017;
• Tozine Tiller, 42, of Absecon, sentencing scheduled for Jan. 20, 2017;
• TeJohn Cooper, 43, of Galloway Township, sentencing scheduled for Dec. 16, 2016;
• Ronald Douglas Byrd, 51, of Pleasantville, sentencing scheduled for Dec. 2, 2016;
• Kareem Taylor, 41, of Atlantic City; sentencing scheduled for Dec. 2, 2016;
• Talib Tiller, 43, of Mays Landing, sentencing scheduled for Dec. 1, 2016;
• John Wellman, 41, of Somers Point, sentencing scheduled for Dec. 1, 2016;
• Phillip Horton, 50, of Los Angeles, California, sentencing scheduled for Dec. 1, 2016; and
• Francisco Alberto Rascon-Muracami, 22, of Obregon, Mexico, sentenced on Oct. 30, 2015, to 70 months’ imprisonment and five years of supervised release.