Crime & Safety
Galloway Man Indicted For Role in Dangerous Drug Trafficking Ring
Tyrone Ellis was among 25 defendants arrested in 2013 as part of the Dirty Block gang. He was indicted on Wednesday.
A Galloway Township man is among nine people indicted on Wednesday in connection with the Atlantic City criminal street gang known as “Dirty Block," U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman announced Wednesday night.
Tyrone Ellis, 32, was among 25 people charged with using threats, intimidation and violence to maintain control of an illegal drug trade in Atlantic City on March 26. Ellis was named as a leader/distributor with the group at the time.
On Wednesday, he was one of nine people named in a 42-count superseding indictment that added numerous specific drug and weapons charges against the defendants.
A 125-count superseding indictment was returned against an additional 17 defendants on June 4.
Ellis specifically was charged in 37 separate offenses with multiple partners between Nov. 12, 2012 and March 17, 2013, all in Atlantic City.
An investigation that included surveillance, confidential informants, controlled drug purchases, record checks and telephone wiretaps exposed that Dirty Block acquires and distributes heroin, cocaine and prescription drugs; maintains various stash houses and drug dens; and possesses numerous illegal firearms to maintain control of drug distribution and to intimidate, threaten and kill rivals, according to documents filed and statements made in court.
Ellis, a.k.a “Rome,” Mykal Derry and several of their conspirators frequently carried firearms, despite prior convictions prohibiting their possession.Defendants Maurice Thomas and Mark Frye are accused of leading a sophisticated drug trafficking organization that has multiple lines of supply and uses multiple subjects who meet with customers and distribute large quantities of heroin from multiple tower style apartment buildings, on multiple floors.
They allegedly provided more than 1,000 bricks of heroin to Ellis and Mykal Derry between October, 2012 and February, 2013, Fishman said. Thomas and Frye were intercepted via wiretap while dealing with Ellis and Mykal Derry.
Dirty Block specialized in heroin, but also dealt with illegal prescription drugs and cocaine.
Find out what's happening in Gallowayfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
