Jail Time For South Jersey Man In Widespread Drug Ring: Feds

CAMDEN COUNTY, NJ - A South Jersey man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for selling crack cocaine, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced on Tuesday.

Karim Johnson, a/k/a “Chicky,” 39, of Camden, previously pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base. He is also subject to eight years of supervised release and 300 hours of community service.

Johnson admitted that he sold crack cocaine and furanyl fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, around the 1700 block of Filmore Street in Camden as part of a larger drug ring, according to documents filed in the case and statements made in court.

Johnson was one of 10 members of the alleged drug ring that were arrested in June of last year following a long-term investigation by the FBI.

John Gunther, 34, of Blackwood; Mark Campbell, 28, of Sicklerville; George Williams, 42 of Haddon Township; and Taleaf Gunther, 31, William Roland, 35, Daron Suiter, 23, Latoya Whealton, 32, Malcolm McCoy, 27, and Rajai Gaines, 33, all of Camden, were charged by complaint with one count of drug trafficking conspiracy.

Davon Leak, 19, of Camden, was later arrested and charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base as well as quantities of heroin and furanyl fentanyl.
John Gunther and Taleaf Gunther were the alleged leaders and managers of the operation. They obtained large amounts of the drugs and readied them to be sold on the streets, according to authorities. Campbell is accused of supplying bulk quantities of crack cocaine to members of the organization.

They were accused of providing crack cocaine and heroin to other members of the group to be sold to customers. They also collected the money and oversaw the daily sales and operation of the organization, according to authorities.

The FBI-led investigation made use of surveillance, confidential informants, cooperating witnesses, more than 20 controlled drug purchases, record checks, a GPS vehicle tracker, and multiple telephone wiretaps to uncover the operations of the drug trafficking organization. The investigation ultimately led to the seizure of over 300 grams of crack cocaine, quantities of furanyl fentanyl and heroin, a firearm, and drug paraphernalia.

On March 26, at the same time Johnson pleaded guilty, Suiter pleaded guilty to the same charges. Suiter was sentenced on Aug. 9 to five years in prison.

On March 12, Williams pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute furanyl fentanyl.

On March 5, Whealton pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base. She also accepted responsibility for distributing furanyl fentanyl and heroin to customers in Camden.

Later in the spring, Gaines pleaded guilty to a superseding information charging him with possessing with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base.

Williams, Whealton and Gaines all await sentencing. Charges remain against the other six people in the alleged drug ring, and they are all considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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