Parents Admit To Using Teen Son In Atlantic Co. Illegal Weed Business

MAYS LANDING, NJ — A Somers Point couple admitted to running an illegal marijuana business out of their apartment, selling drugs throughout town with their 14-year-old son helping them out.

Donna Shiffler, 40, and her boyfriend John Garman, 39, both pleaded guilty to multiple drugs and child endangerment charges on Tuesday, with both pleas contingent on the other resolving the matter.

The couple maintained a drug manufacturing facility out of their Somers Point apartment that supplied hundreds in Atlantic County with marijuana, THC products and psilocybin mushrooms, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said.

The investigation into the couple began in March 2023, specifically into Garman's distribution, authorities said. He promoted his drug distribution business, "Garmans Goods," by advertising publicly on social media and placing jars of marijuana at various public locations in Somers Point, according to officials.

During the months of April and May 2023, Garman sold marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms and THC edible products directly to an undercover police detective at the Ocean Heights Shopping Plaza in Somers Point, officials said. Garman also told the cop that with the summer approaching, his 14-year-old son would be distributing his business cards on the boardwalk, officials said.

In the apartment where the couple lived with their children ages 14, 12 and seven, authorities found about 62 pounds of hashish, about 42 pounds of marijuana and about two pounds of psilocybin mushrooms, officials said. A security system and security camera were pointed at the front door.

The couple also had packaging materials, labels and business cards with the name "Garmans Goods."

About $119,000 in U.S. currency was seized from the apartment, which police believe to be the proceeds from drug dealing.

Inside their cars, often driven by Garman and registered to Shiffler, police found cash, brass knuckles, approximately two pounds of marijuana, THC edible products and vape cartridges.

Messages spanning more than a year show that Garman and Shiffler also regularly used their 14-year-old son to prepare, package and sell drugs on their behalf, compensating him with drugs including marijuana and THC gummies, officials said.

Business cards, cash and THC edible products were also found in the 14-year-old's bedroom, officials said.

Evidence from the "Garmans Goods" Facebook page showed that the couple supplied hundreds in Atlantic County with marijuana, THC products and psilocybin mushrooms at public locations including recreation fields, shopping centers and drug free school zones, officials said.

Garman and Shiffler were initially arrested on May 25, 2023. A post from the Facebook page on May 26 reads "Page is shut down do not message this page or p.m."

They were rearrested on Aug. 3 due to additional evidence. Garman is set to be sentenced on May 20, where he faces an aggregate term of 10 years in New Jersey State Prison. Shiffler's sentencing is scheduled for July 9 and she faces an aggregate term of five years in New Jersey State Prison.