19 Busted In South Jersey Drug Ring, Pushing 500 Bricks Of Heroin

Nineteen people have been busted in a South Jersey drug ring involving more than 500 bricks of heroin, according to a release from Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino issued over the past week.

The alleged leader and numerous other members of the drug network were distributing large quantities of heroin and cocaine in South Jersey as part of a probe called “Operation Maple Empire.”

The investigation led to the discovery of more than 500 bricks of heroin – which equals more than 25,000 doses of heroin, all of which were seized in the investigation, along with two-thirds of a kilo of cocaine, and three handguns, according to the release.

The following four defendants face first-degree charges:

• Shawn Davis, 42, of Trenton, the alleged leader of the drug ring, faces first-degree charges of leader of a narcotics trafficking network, promoting organized street crime, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
• Tracy Edwards, 24, of Trenton, allegedly was one of the primary drug distributers under Davis. He is charged with first-degree distribution of heroin and second-degree gun charges.
• Tamica Freeman, 37, of Trenton, was driving with Davis when the two were stopped by the State Police and arrested on May 10 allegedly with 358 bricks of heroin and $8,000 cash in the vehicle. She is charged with first-degree possession of heroin with intent to distribute.
• William Holzendorf, 48, of Trenton, is charged with first-degree possession of a handgun for possessing a semi-automatic pistol as a felon with a prior conviction for first-degree carjacking.

The leader charge carries a sentence of life in prison, including 25 years without parole, and promoting organized street crime carries a sentence of up to 30 years, consecutive to the sentence for any underlying crime, according to the release.

Davis also faces second-degree charges of possession of a gun as a convicted felon and possession of a gun while committing a drug offense. Detectives found a handgun and 600 grams of cocaine when they searched his house. Of the other 15 defendants, 13 face second-degree charges of conspiracy and/or distribution or possession of narcotics and two face third-degree drug charges.

“We allege that Davis was a major heroin supplier, as revealed by the 358 bricks of heroin – or nearly 18,000 doses – seized from his car as he returned from a weekly drug run to Newark,” said Porrino. “The allegations make clear that Davis was fueling a staggering amount of addiction each week, and by shutting him down, the State Police and their partners undoubtedly saved lives.”

It is alleged that Davis went to Newark at least once a week to obtain large quantities of heroin and cocaine, which he supplied to several drug dealers directly under him, including Edwards and Jerome Person, 38, of Trenton, for further distribution to other members of the ring and throughout the city of Trenton.

Those individuals allegedly sold heroin directly on behalf of Davis, providing Davis with at least part of the proceeds from their street-level sales. Davis also allegedly made drug sales himself. The drug trafficking ring operated in the area of Maple Avenue in Trenton, among other areas, according to the release.

The following defendants are charged, along with Davis, Edwards, Holzendorf and Person, with second-degree conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine:

• Traitiana Edwards, 28, of Trenton,
• Taibika Dawson, 42, of Feasterville, Pa.,
• Ricardo Cruz, 43, of Trenton,
• Willie Green, 26, of Trenton,
• Rush Marzah, 24, of Trenton,
• Karl Davis, Jr., 31, of Morrisville, Pa.,
• Donovan Vereen, 22, of Trenton,
• Brequan Womack, 29, of Trenton, and
• Jaquan Bland, 26, of Trenton.

Each of those defendants, with the exception of Green and Karl Davis, Jr., also face second-degree and/or third-degree drug distribution or drug possession charges.

The following three defendants face second-degree counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, among other charges. They were arrested at an address on Ardmore Avenue where a garage is located that allegedly was used by the ring as a stash house:

• Prince Jones, 44, of Trenton,
• Angelica Mendez, 26, of Trenton, and
• Charlene Rodriguez, 27, of Trenton.

The following two remaining defendants face 3rd degree heroin charges:

• George Martz, 31, of Freehold and
• Robert Minelli, 59, of Ewing.

OAG photo