6th Man Admits Guilt In South Jersey Drug Trafficking Ring, Authorities Say

Another man has admitted his guilt in a crack cocaine distribution conspiracy, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced on Wednesday. Nafeez Griffin, a/k/a “Feez,” 31, of Camden, pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base.

He faces a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 6. He is the sixth person to plead guilty to charges connected with this drug trafficking organization.

Earlier this month, Tony Wilson, a/k/a “Tony Langston,” a/k/a “Tone,” and a/k/a “H,” 25, was sentenced to eight years after he pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

On June 14, Jason Boyd, a/k/a “Teddy,” a/k/a “Teddy Reek,” and a/k/a “Fatboy,” 37, was sentenced to eight years in prison. Boyd had previously pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

On June 13, Derek Stallworth, a/k/a “AK” and a/k/a “A,” 21, of Camden, was sentenced to eight years in prison. Stallworth had previously pleaded guilty to the same charges for his role in the conspiracy.
In addition to their prison terms, each person was sentenced to five years of supervised release.

On April 3, Joseph Boyd, a/k/a “Breet,” 31, pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base.

On June 7, Julian Dickerson, a/k/a “Juelz,” 30, pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base.

They both await sentencing.

All six, along with Preston Thomas and Jeffrey Whitaker, were originally charged by complaint on Sept. 9, 2016, following a long-term investigation by the FBI’s South Jersey Violent Offender and Gang Task Force.

Law enforcement officers say they seized drugs and recovered two handguns used by members of the conspiracy as part of the organization’s drug trafficking activities.

Joseph Boyd, Jason Boyd, and Thomas are the alleged leaders and managers of the operation, while Whitaker, Stallworth, Wilson, Dickerson, and Griffin staffed the block during assigned shifts and sold drugs to customers who approached on foot and in vehicles, authorities said.

The investigation began in late 2015, and involved controlled purchases of crack cocaine and heroin, and multiple authorized wiretaps of phones used by members of the conspiracy, authorities said.

On Feb. 8, a federal grand jury also charged Preston J. Thomas, 30, a/k/a “Boo,” of Camden, in a superseding indictment with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Jeffrey Whitaker, 33, a/k/a “Jay,” a/k/a “Jay Black,” and a/k/a “Black,” of Collingswood, was indicted on the same drug trafficking conspiracy offense.

Patch file photo