Multi-Agency Operation Yields Large Quantity of Drugs, Guns, Cash, 16 Arrested
For Immediate Release:
November 22, 2022.
A months-long investigation into the distribution of
narcotics resulted in the arrest of 16 individuals and the recovery of multiple
handguns and a large quantity of drugs.
On November 14, 2022, the Atlantic City Police Department, with
assistance from the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, DEA Atlantic City
Resident Office, and the Liberty Mid-Atlantic DEA Atlantic County HIDTA Task Force,
completed an investigation into a drug distribution network operating in the
area of Florida Avenue, the Ducktown section of Atlantic City, and surrounding
areas.
The network, led by brothers Joseph and Justin Suarez,
utilized a series of stash locations and street level dealers to distribute
cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin in Atlantic City. According to the New Jersey
State Police’s Drug Monitoring Initiative, this particular brand of
heroin/fentanyl, known as ‘Bad Bunny’, has been linked to at least 25 overdoses
including 8 fatalities. It was through the collaborative efforts of the various
agencies involved that this deadly drug distribution network was dismantled.
The operation culminated in the execution of ten (10)
residential search warrants in the aforesaid area of Atlantic City and
throughout Atlantic County. The operation and execution of the search warrants
resulted in the seizure of approximately 785 bricks or 39,250 individual wax
folds of packaged heroin/fentanyl, approximately 7 ounces of cocaine, four
handguns, one of which was determined to be a ‘ghost gun’ and another
determined to be stolen, various firearm ammunition, miscellaneous amounts of crack
cocaine and suspected fentanyl pills, and approximately $86,650 in US currency,
believed to be proceeds of illegal narcotics sales.
The investigation was led by Detective Christopher Dodson
with the assistance of Detectives Darrin Lorady, James Barrett, and detectives
from the Atlantic City Police Department’s Special Investigations Section. Members
of the Atlantic City SWAT team, Atlantic County Regional SWAT Team, NJ and NY
DEA SRT, and NJSP TEAMS assisted in the execution of the search warrants.
“A cornerstone of the HIDTA program is enhancing the
coordination and cooperation between Federal and State/local law enforcement
agencies to increase public safety”, said Jeremiah Daley, Executive Director of
the Liberty Mid-Atlantic High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program (LMA
HIDTA). “The devastation peddled by these criminal organizations, including
violent crime and substance use disorders, hold our local community members
hostage within their own neighborhoods. I commend the efforts of all the
officers, special agents, and prosecutors involved in Operation Florida Keys to
rid this area of the network involved in pushing tens of thousands of doses of
poison onto the streets of Atlantic City and the surrounding areas.”
“The results of this investigation show once again that law
enforcement is relentless when it comes to dismantling these drug trafficking
organizations who choose to push poison into our communities,” said Special
Agent in Charge of the DEA’s New Jersey Division Susan A. Gibson. “We are also
reminded by the seizure of several weapons that drug trafficking and violence
go hand in hand. The arrests of the individuals in this investigation has made
the Atlantic City area a little bit safer.”
“This lengthy investigation with the ACPD, DEA and the
Atlantic County Prosecutors office was successful using the most up to date technology
and resources to bring this drug dealing organization to its knees and to a
screeching halt,” said Atlantic County Prosecutor William Reynolds. “This sends
a clear message to the community, Be on Notice, this conduct will not be
tolerated. We will continue to work together and aggressively prosecute those
who put this poison on the streets. This was truly a team effort of thousands
of hours of hard work to execute Operation Florida Keys. We are grateful for
the opportunity to be of service.”
"I am extremely proud of our outstanding police
department,” said Mayor Marty Small. “We are continuing to show our dedication
and commitment to cleaning up our city and making it a safer place to both live
and visit. I want to also thank the multiple law enforcement agencies that
assisted in ending this drug distribution network. Drugs and violence have no
place in our city. The work does not stop here."
“I am extremely proud of the hard work and dedication of all
the agencies and officers who worked this investigation, resulting in the
dismantling of a drug trafficking organization that was terrorizing our
neighborhoods,” said Chief James Sarkos. “The officers’ tireless efforts have
made a remarkable difference in the Ducktown neighborhood. The Atlantic City Police Department will
continue to work with all of our partners at the local, county, state and
federal levels to aggressively target these criminal groups.”
The below individuals were remanded to the Atlantic County
Justice Facility. The public is reminded that charges are mere allegations, and
the accused are considered innocent until proven guilty.
ARRESTED: Justin
Suarez, 37, of Atlantic City.
ARRESTED: Joseph
Suarez, 37, of Atlantic City.
CHARGES: First-degree leader of a narcotics trafficking network, third-degree
unlawful possession of CDS (3 counts), second-degree conspiracy to distribute
CDS (3 counts), first-degree possession of CDS with the intent to distribute (2
counts), second-degree possession of CDS with the intent to distribute, and
third-degree financial facilitation of criminal activity.
ARRESTED: James Dimeo, 59, of Atlantic City.
ARRESTED: Howard Cubbage, 57, of Atlantic City.
ARRESTED: Safiya Braxton, 36, of Atlantic City.
ARRESTED: Arcadia Ridley, 32, of Absecon, NJ.
ARRESTED: Maurice Braxton, 34, of Atlantic City.
ARRESTED: Keith Potter, 60, of Galloway, NJ.
CHARGES: Third-Degree Unlawful Possession of CDS (3 counts),
second-degree conspiracy to distribute CDS (3 counts), first-degree possession
of CDS with the intent to distribute CDS (2 counts), second-degree possession
of CDS with the intent to distribute, third-degree financial facilitation of
criminal activity.
ARRESTED: Lydia Santana, 31, of Atlantic City.
ARRESTED: Terrea Acosta, 55, of Atlantic City.
ARRESTED: Brianna Perez, 30, of Atlantic City.
CHARGES: Second-degree conspiracy to distribute CDS (3
counts) and third-degree financial facilitation of criminal activity.
ARRESTED: Michael Howell, 35, of Atlantic City.
CHARGES: Fourth-degree unlawful possession of marijuana,
third-degree possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, and
third-degree distribution of marijuana.
ARRESTED: Jose Perez Paredes, 29, of Philadelphia, PA.
ARRESTED: Yoao Jerez-Tejada, 37, of Philadelphia, PA.
CHARGES: First-degree possession of CDS with the intent to
distribute CDS, second-degree conspiracy to distribute CDS, unlawful possession
of CDS, third-degree unlawful possession of CDS, third-degree distribution of
CDS on or near school property.
ARRESTED: Orlando Peguero-Perez, 36, of West New York, NJ.
CHARGES: Second-degree possession of CDS with the intent to
distribute, second-degree distribution of CDS within 500ft of Public Property,
unlawful possession of CDS, third-degree distribution of CDS On or near school
property, and third-degree money laundering.
The below individual was released on a summons with a future
court date.
ARRESTED: Malik Lyons, 22, of Egg Harbor Township, NJ.
CHARGES: Second-degree possession of CDS with the intent to
distribute, third-degree unlawful possession of CDS, first-degree unlawful
possession of a handgun, possession of a handgun without a having first
obtained a permit, second-degree possession of a firearm while committing a CDS
offense, certain persons not to possess a firearm, and fourth-degree receiving
stolen property.
Anyone with information about the distribution of narcotics
is urged to contact the Atlantic City Police Department’s Special
Investigations Section at 609-347-5858 or text anonymously to tip411 (847411).
Begin the text with ACPD.
Alert sent on
11/22/2022 at 1:21PM EST
To submit a tip via text message text
ACPD
and your tip to 847411
Alert delivered to the following groups:
Atlantic City PD, Business Alerts, Press Releases, Westside Civic Association, Westside Homeowners Protective Association, Tanger Outlet, Chelsea Neighborhood Civic Association, Venice Park Civic Association, Marina District, Stanley Homes Village, First Ward Civic Association, Carver Hall, Chelsea Heights, Bungalow Park Civic Association, The Cove Condo Association, CRDA, Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, Security Directors , City Adminstration, Communications, and Atlantic City Boardwalk Committee
Link to Agency
|