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TRENTON
– Attorney General Paula T. Dow, Criminal
Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor, Camden
Police Chief John S. Thomson and Camden
County Prosecutor Warren W. Faulk announced
the takedown today of a major narcotics
distribution network that was dealing large
quantities of crack cocaine, heroin, PCP
and marijuana in South Camden. Fifteen were
charged, including the ring’s alleged
leader, a high-ranking member of the G-Shine
Bloods street gang.
Beginning
early today, a multi-agency team arrested
defendants in Camden, Cherry Hill, Philadelphia
and nearby municipalities. By 11 a.m., 10
defendants had been arrested; the other
five were being sought on warrants. The
charges stem from Operation City Wide, a
nine-month investigation led by the Division
of Criminal Justice, with assistance from
the Camden Police Department, Camden County
Prosecutor’s Office, NJ Department
of Corrections, Cherry Hill Police Department,
Magnolia Police Department, Pennsauken Police
Department, Philadelphia Police, New Jersey
State Police, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
and National Guard.
Today’s
arrests include the alleged leader of the
network, Kyle Ogletree, 27, of Cherry Hill,
a five-star general in the G-Shine Bloods,
and his uncle Sean Ogletree, 34, of Philadelphia,
his alleged partner in the criminal enterprise.
The narcotics network was dealing up to
tens of thousands of dollars worth of drugs
in a single week. Nine of the men have been
charged in the past with violent crimes,
including weapons offenses and assaults.
“We
have dismantled a major drug network with
ties to the Bloods street gang that was
dealing large quantities of crack cocaine,
heroin and PCP in violence-torn neighborhoods
in Camden,” said Attorney General
Dow. “Through operations such as this
one, we are working to take drug dealers
off the streets and reduce the violence
plaguing Camden and other communities.”
“This
is an excellent example of a strategic investigation
to take down the command structure of a
criminal enterprise that was compromising
the safety and quality of life of residents
in the neighborhoods where it operated,”
said Director Taylor. “We will continue
to cooperate with our law enforcement partners
in Camden and throughout New Jersey to combat
drug trafficking.”
“We
welcome operations like this that enable
us to join forces across jurisdictional
lines to tackle an identified threat to
our residents in Camden, such as this narcotics
ring,” said Chief Thomson. “These
tough times demand that we be proactive
and work cooperatively. I thank Attorney
General Dow for her support.”
“We
are grateful for the continuing participation
of state and federal law enforcement agencies
in the battle against crime and violence
in the City of Camden and throughout the
County,” said Prosecutor Faulk.
All
15 men charged today in the investigation
were charged with first-degree racketeering
and various drug offenses. The first-degree
racketeering charge carries a maximum sentence
of 20 years in state prison and a $200,000
criminal fine upon conviction.
Kyle
and Sean Ogletree allegedly are cooperative
partners in a large-scale narcotics distribution
enterprise that includes at least five open-air
drug “sets” dealing crack cocaine,
heroin, PCP and marijuana in South Camden.
The five sets operate at the following locations:
- $1700
Block of Norris Street,
- $1200
Block of Decatur Street,
- $1200
Block of Dayton Street,
- $4th
and Jasper Streets, and
- $6th
and Viola Streets.
The
investigation revealed a hierarchy within
the criminal enterprise with well-defined
roles. It is alleged that “set managers”
were used to insulate the leaders from street-level
“trappers.” The set managers
were responsible for day-to-day operations
and allegedly transferred currency and narcotics
to and from Kyle and Sean Ogletree and the
trappers. Trappers were responsible for
the hand to hand exchanges of narcotics
and currency to and from buyers. “Runners”
were used to re-supply the trappers with
narcotics and run money from the drug sales
to the set managers.
Kyle
Ogletree allegedly established shifts for
the set managers, trappers and runners to
ensure there would be 24-hour coverage at
some of the locations. The enterprise also
allegedly provided drugs to several wholesale
clients who operated their own drug sets
in the Camden area.
The
arrested men were lodged in jail with bails
set at $300,000 to $500,000. Authorities
have seized about a kilogram of crack cocaine,
which has a street value of up to $80,000
when cut and packaged; approximately two
ounces of heroin, worth more than $4,000;
approximately seven ounces of PCP, worth
about $6,000; and about $700 worth of marijuana.
Also seized during the execution of search
warrants were a .40-caliber handgun, approximately
$20,000 in cash and several items of expensive
jewelry. In addition, orders were executed
to seize and restrain property belonging
to Kyle and Sean Ogletree, including vehicles
and two houses.
The
defendants were charged as follows:
Alleged
Leaders
- Kyle
Ogletree, 27, of Cherry Hill,
aka “Whop.” Racketeering (1st
degree), Distribution of PCP (1st &
2nd degree), Distribution of Cocaine (2nd
degree), Distribution of Heroin (2nd degree),
Conspiracy to Distribute Narcotics (3
charges for PCP, cocaine and heroin, all
2nd degree).
- Sean
Ogletree,
34, of Philadelphia, aka “CO.”
Racketeering (1st degree), Conspiracy
to Distribute Cocaine (2nd degree).
Alleged
Narcotics Suppliers for Network
- Donte
R. Cook, 30, of Camden, aka “Dont.”
Racketeering (1st degree), Distribution
of Heroin (2nd degree), Conspiracy to
Distribute Heroin (2nd degree).
- Lovell
Venable, 33, of Cherry Hill,
aka “Vell.” Racketeering (1st
degree), Distribution of PCP (1st degree),
Conspiracy to Distribute PCP (2nd degree).
Alleged
Wholesale Distributor for Network
- Keenan
Ogletree (Kyle’s brother),
30, of Camden. Racketeering (1st degree),
Distribution of Cocaine (2nd degree),
Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (2nd
degree).
Alleged
Set Managers
- Jamarvis
L. Green,
24, of Collingswood, aka “Jamar.”
Racketeering (1st degree), Distribution
of Cocaine (3rd degree), Conspiracy to
Distribute Cocaine (3rd degree).
- Damir
Lea, 21, of Camden, aka “D-Money.”
Racketeering (1st degree), Distribution
of Cocaine (3rd degree), Conspiracy to
Distribute Cocaine (3rd degree).
- Carlton
Riley Jr.,
20, of Camden, aka “Fat Boy.”
Racketeering (1st degree), Distribution
of Cocaine (3rd degree), Conspiracy to
Distribute Cocaine (3rd degree).
- Jonathan
Woods,
22, of Camden, aka “Bud.”
Racketeering (1st degree), Distribution
of Cocaine (3rd degree), Conspiracy to
Distribute Cocaine (3rd degree).
- Michael
Woods, 23, of Camden. Racketeering
(1st degree), Distribution of Cocaine
(3rd degree), Conspiracy to Distribute
Cocaine (3rd degree).
Alleged
Trappers
- Leon
O. Holmes, 27, of Camden, aka
“Teeny.” Racketeering (1st
degree), Distribution of Cocaine (3rd
degree), Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine
(3rd degree).
- Yusef
Allen, 24, of Camden. Racketeering
(1st degree), Distribution of Cocaine
(3rd degree), Conspiracy to Distribute
Cocaine (3rd degree).
- Kevin
D. Owens, 21, of Camden, aka
“Kev.” Racketeering (1st degree),
Distribution of Cocaine (3rd degree),
Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (3rd
degree).
- Hayaethin
Lee, 18, of Camden. Racketeering
(1st degree), Distribution of Cocaine
(3rd degree), Conspiracy to Distribute
Cocaine (3rd degree).
- Calvin
D. Johnson,
20, of Camden, aka “Killer Cal.”
Racketeering (1st degree), Distribution
of Cocaine (3rd degree), Conspiracy to
Distribute Cocaine (3rd degree).
The
following defendants were still being sought
on warrants late this morning: Cook, Venable,
Lea, Allen and Lee. The others had been
arrested.
Operation
City Wide was conducted by the Division
of Criminal Justice Gangs & Organized
Crime Bureau, Camden City Police Department,
NJ Department of Corrections, Cherry Hill
Police Department, Magnolia Police Department,
Pennsauken Police Department, Philadelphia
Police, New Jersey State Police Special
Investigation Section, Camden County Prosecutor’s
Office, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
and National Guard. Attorney General Dow
credited Detective Peppi Pichette and Detective
Brian Woolston of the Division of Criminal
Justice, who were the Case Detectives, and
Acting Sgt. Andrea Salvatini, Sgt. James
Nelson, Lt. John Torrey, and Deputy Chief
Al Buecker, who supervised the case. The
Deputy Attorney General assigned to this
case is Jill Mayer, supervised by Deputy
Attorney General Mark Eliades, Chief of
the Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau.
Attorney General Dow also credited all of
the individuals who worked on the operation
for each of the participating agencies.
The
complaints that were filed are merely accusations,
and the defendants are presumed innocent
until proven guilty. The charges will be
presented to a grand jury for potential
indictment. First-degree crimes carry a
maximum sentence of 20 years in state prison
and a $200,000 fine. Second-degree crimes
carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in
prison and a $150,000 fine. Third-degree
crimes carry a maximum sentence of five
years in prison a $15,000 fine.
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