ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (1010 WINS) -- Prosecutors charged 30 people, seized $2.6 million in cash, three vehicles, and eight plots of land in connection to a large-scale drug trafficking ring across several parts of New Jersey that spanned over four years, the Atlantic County District Attorney's Office announced Wednesday.
According to prosecutors, 27-year-old Steven Martinez and 31-year-old Shiraz Khan are the accused heads of the network that began selling heroin, cocaine, Suboxone, Percocet and marijuana in 2016.
Khan was able to run the ring while incarcerated at the Atlantic County jail with the help of 26-year-old Corrections Officer Luis Mercado, who smuggled drugs and cell phones into the prison used to coordinate with outside dealers, prosecutors added.
Khan and Martinez are charged with racketeering, forgery, money laundering, and numerous drug distribution charges. Khan is also charged with bribery.
Prosecutors also charged Martinez, 25-year-old Shamar Scott, and 23-year-old Deshawn Hose with murder in the 2019 shooting death of 45-year-old Demond Tally.
Corrections officer Mercado was charged last year with official misconduct.
Others charged are:
- Alexis Owens, 21
- Anthony Hamilton, 35
-Berry Bethea, 47
- Brian Campbell, 43
- Clifford Jones, 27
- Howard Dunns, 45
- Isaiah Newsome, 23
- Jahleem Montague-Williams
- Jeanette Campbell, 48
- Joshua Cortes, 32
- Kevin Moulden, 29
- Laura Corcino, 34
- Lorin Wright, 35
- Mehmmad Rehman, 29
- Naim Lyons, 30
- Raekwon McKenney, 22
- Robert Strong, 30
- Santia Manassanet, 30
- Scott Dorn, 22
- Selina Acevedo, 30
- Shamal Harvey, 26
- Shaquille Scott, 23
- Tashaun Pressley, 21
- Theresa Strong, 41
- Zachary Michaels, 29
Nine people who were charged in connection to the R.I.C.O drug ring were already in prison when charges were filed and all but Dunns are charged with racketeering and drug offenses, prosecutors noted.
Dunns is charged with possessing a phone in jail and conspiracy to possess a phone, officials added.
Authorities are continuing to investigate additional crimes in the drug trafficking ring.
