10 Arrested, Handguns, Drugs, Money Recovered in Multiple Search Warrants
For Immediate Release:
March 12, 2021
A two-month investigation into the distribution of narcotics
from two Atlantic City residential buildings resulted in the arrest of 10
individuals and the recovery of multiple handguns and drugs.
On March 11, 2021, members of the DEA Liberty Mid-Atlantic
High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, Atlantic County
Prosecutor’s Office, and Atlantic City Police Department Special Investigations
Section and SWAT Team executed simultaneous residential search warrants at six apartments
within the Madison Hotel located in the beach block of Dr. Martin Luther King
Jr Boulevard and one apartment in the Lighthouse Plaza located in the 300 block
of Atlantic Avenue.
During the investigation, detectives recovered three handguns,
1,050 bags of heroin, 3 pounds of ecstasy, more than seven ounces of
methamphetamine, 1.5 ounces of cocaine, and nearly $14,000 in US currency.
During the search of the residence at the Lighthouse Plaza,
an Atlantic City SWAT Team member shot a charging dog to prevent himself and
other officers from being attacked.
The Fire Marshall from the Atlantic City Fire Department
responded to the Madison Hotel after officers observed numerous safety issues
including fire exit doors being chained and padlocked shut. They also located a first floor stairwell
door that was locked from the outside.
In the event of an emergency, anyone using the stairwell to exit the
building would have been unable to get through the door to escape.
Members of the DEA Special Response Team and Atlantic County
Emergency Response Team assisted in the execution of the search warrants.
The investigation was led by Detectives Will Herrerias,
Nicholas Berardis, and Eric Evans of the Atlantic City Police Department. It was aided by numerous tips from residents
and guests from each location.
“This investigation is a reflection of the hard work and
dedication of the DEA Liberty Mid-Atlantic Task Force, Atlantic City PD, and
the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office,” said Special Agent in Charge of the
DEA’s New Jersey Division Susan A. Gibson. “The combination and drugs and guns
can lead to violence and death. The seizure of these items and the arrests of
those in this investigation has made the Atlantic City area safer. We will
continue to pursue those who seek to degrade our communities.”
“The Madison Hotel is a significant nuisance located within
the heart of Atlantic City’s Tourism District,” said Damon G. Tyner, Atlantic
County Prosecutor. “In the past three years there have been two homicides
at this location. We will not permit drug dealers to set up shop, peddle
poison and otherwise interfere with the quality of life of our residents and
tourists.”
“Our continued partnership with our law enforcement allies
continues to bear fruit as more deadly guns and dangerous drugs are removed
from the streets,” said James Sarkos, Interim-Officer-in Charge of the Atlantic
City Police Department. “We are
committed to combating criminal activity and violence that will allow our community
to be safer.”
The below individuals were remanded to the Atlantic County
Justice Facility. Charges are mere
accusations, and the accused are considered innocent until proven guilty.
ARRESTED: Alicia
Gilliard, 34, of Atlantic City.
CHARGES: Possession of
CDS (three counts), possession with intent to distribute CDS (three counts),
possession of a weapon while committing a CDS offense (three counts),
possession of hollow-point ammunition (three counts), possession with intent to
distribute CDS within 500 feet of a public zone, and money laundering.
ARRESTED: Akeem Mills,
28, of Mays Landing, NJ.
CHARGES: Possession of
CDS (three counts), possession with intent to distribute CDS (three counts),
possession of a weapon while committing a CDS offense (three counts),
possession of hollow-point ammunition (three counts), possession with intent to
distribute CDS within 500 feet of a public zone, and money laundering.
ARRESTED: Malita
Scarlett, 30, of Camden, NJ.
CHARGES: Possession of
CDS (seven counts), possession with intent to distribute CDS (seven counts),
possession of a weapon while committing a CDS offense (three counts),
possession of hollow-point ammunition (three counts), possession with intent to
distribute CDS within 500 feet of a public zone (two counts), and money laundering.
ARRESTED: Evrod
Walker, 39, of Atlantic City.
CHARGES: Two counts
each of possession of CDS, possession with intent to distribute CDS, and
possession with intent to distribute CDS within 500 feet of a public zone.
The below individuals were released on a summons with a future
court date.
ARRESTED: Anthony
Bailey, 46, of Atlantic City.
CHARGES: Possession of
CDS (two counts), possession with intent to distribute CDS, and possession with
intent to distribute CDS within 500 feet of a public zone, and contempt of
court.
ARRESTED: Tyler
Barrett, 28, of, Atlantic City.
CHARGES: Possession of
narcotic paraphernalia.
ARRESTED: Tracy
Blackwell, 38, of Atlantic City.
CHARGES: Contempt of
court.
ARRESTED: Shane
Calareso-Hodges, 34, of Absecon, NJ.
CHARGES: Possession of
CDS.
ARRESTED: Michael
Lombardi, 56, of, Atlantic City.
CHARGES: Possession of
narcotic paraphernalia.
ARRESTED: Rasheed
Phillips, 31, of Atlantic City.
CHARGES: Possession of
CDS, possession with intent to distribute CDS, and possession with intent to
distribute CDS within 500 feet of a public zone.
Anyone with information about the distribution of narcotics
is urged to contact the Atlantic City Police Department Special Investigations
Section at 609-347-5858 or text anonymously to tip411 (847411). Begin the
text with ACPD.
###
Alert sent on
03/12/2021 at 11:10AM EST
To submit a tip via text message text
ACPD
and your tip to 847411
Alert delivered to the following groups:
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