30 Indicted in Large-scale Drug Ring in Atlantic County, Three on Murder Charges

An Atlantic County Grand Jury has handed up an indictment against 30 people who were part of a large-scale drug distribution organization; authorities have seized $2.6 million, three vehicles, and eight parcels of land in Hamilton Township, Pleasantville, and Buena Borough.

Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner says an investigation by the ACPO Guns, Gangs, and Narcotics Unit began in March, 2017, which looked into 27-year-old Steven Martinez and 31-year-old Shiraz Khan operating a large-scale drug distribution organization in Atlantic County. According to Tyner, "As the leaders of this organization Martinez and Khan supplied large quantities of narcotics, including, heroin, cocaine, Suboxone, Percocet and marijuana to be sold by various individuals who operated as drug dealers for the organization."

Tyner continued,

Khan continued to operate this drug distribution organization while incarcerated at the Atlantic County Justice Facility by utilizing cellphones and narcotics he had smuggled into the jail by Correctional Police Officer Luis Mercado, 26. Several other individuals in this investigation were previously arrested for possession of firearms and the distribution of CDS for the organization during the course of this investigation.

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According to a press release, assets seized during the course of this investigation include:

Khan, Martinez, and several other members of this organization were known to be armed and dangerous. In addition to narcotics offenses in the indictment Martinez, along with Shamar Scott, 25, and Deshawn Hose, 23, are responsible for the shooting and killing of Demond Tally, 45, Feb. 10, 2019.

Atlantic City Police Department responded to ShotSpotter at 5:13 a.m., on Feb. 10, 2019 in the area of Presbyterian Ave., in Atlantic City, where Tally was found shot. Tally was transported to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center City Campus Trauma Unit, where he was pronounced deceased. Martinez, Scott and Hose are charged and have each been indicted with Murder and Conspiracy charges in connection to the fatal shooting of Tally.

Investigations by numerous local law enforcement agencies are ongoing in connection to other acts of violence allegedly committed by this group.

"The four year investigation of the activities of the criminal organization led by Steven Martinez and Shiraz Kahn is a credit to the women and men of the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office and many of the local law enforcement agencies that provided assistance, such as Egg Harbor Twp. Police Department, Atlantic City Police Department, and Galloway Twp. Police Department,” said Tyner in a press release.

The following people have been charged:

Shiraz Khan - Racketeering, Conspiracy to commit Racketeering, Leader of a Narcotics trafficking network, Possession with intent to distribute CDS, Possession with intent to distribute CDS near a school zone, Possession of CDS, Forgery, Official misconduct, Conspiracy to commit official misconduct, Bribery, Possession of electronic devices in a correctional facility, Selling electronic devices in a correctional facility, Conspiracy to possess and/or sell electronic devices in a correctional facility, Conspiracy to distribute CDS, Money laundering, and Conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Steven Martinez - Racketeering, Conspiracy to commit Racketeering, Leader of a Narcotics trafficking network, Murder and conspiracy, Possession with intent to distribute CDS, Possession with intent to distribute CDS near a school zone, Possession of CDS, Distribution of CDS, Possession of handguns, Possession of bullets and extended magazines, Possession of handguns while committing CDS offenses, Production facilities of heroin, cocaine, and marijuana; Forgery, Conspiracy to distribute CDS, Money laundering, Conspiracy to commit money laundering, Certain person not to have weapons.

Deshawn Hose - Racketeering and conspiracy, Murder and conspiracy, Possessing a handgun and possessing for unlawful purpose, Money laundering and conspiracy, Certain persons not to have weapons.

Shamar Scott - Racketeering (and conspiracy), Murder and conspiracy, Unlawful possession of handgun and possession of handgun for unlawful purpose, Money laundering, Conspiracy to distribute CDS, Certain person not to have weapons.

Kevin Moulden - Racketeering, Conspiracy to commit racketeering, Possess large capacity ammunition magazine, Possess hollow nose bullets, Maintained heroin and cocaine production facilities, Possession with intent to distribute CDS, Possession of handguns, Possession of handguns while committing CDS related offenses, Official misconduct, Conspiracy for off. Misc., Possess and sell electronic devices in jail, Conspiracy to distribute CDS, Money laundering, Conspiracy to launder money, Certain persons not to have weapons.

Robert Strong - Racketeering, Conspiracy to commit racketeering, Leader of a narcotics trafficking network, Distribution of CDS, Possession of large capacity magazine, Possession of hollow nose bullets, Maintain a heroin and cocaine production facility, Possession with intent to distribute CDS, Possession of handguns, Possession of handguns while committing CDS related offenses, Possess CDS near public property, Conspiracy to distribute CDS, Money laundering, Conspiracy to commit money laundering, Certain persons not to have weapons.

Laura Corcino - Racketeering, Conspiracy to commit racketeering, Bribery, Official misconduct, Conspiracy to commit official misconduct, Sell electronic devices in correctional facility, Conspiracy to sell electronic devices in correctional facility, Conspiracy to distribute CDS, Money laundering, Conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Luis Mercado - Racketeering, Conspiracy to commit racketeering, Bribery, Official misconduct, Conspiracy to commit official misconduct, Selling electronic devices in correctional facility, Conspiracy to sell electronic devices in correctional facility, Conspiracy to distribute CDS, Money laundering, Conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Alexis Owens - Racketeering and conspiracy for same, Possession with intent to distribute CDS, Conspiracy to distribute CDS, Official misconduct and conspiracy, Sell phones in jail and conspiracy for same, Money laundering and conspiracy for same.

Mehmmad Rehman - Racketeering and conspiracy for same, Possession with intent to distribute CDS, Conspiracy to distribute CDS, Official misconduct and conspiracy, Sell phones in jail and conspiracy for same, Money laundering and conspiracy for same.

Shaquille Scott - Racketeering (and conspiracy), Conspiracy to distribute CDS, Money laundering (and conspiracy).

Isaiah Newsome - Racketeering (and conspiracy for same), Official misconduct (and conspiracy for same), Possess and sell phones in jail (and conspiracy for same), Possess CDS, Possess with intent to distribute CDS, Money laundering (and conspiracy for same).

Jahleem Montague-Williams - Racketeering, Conspiracy to commit racketeering, Sell electronic devices in correctional facility, Conspiracy to sell electronic devices in correctional facility, Conspiracy to distribute CDS, Money laundering, Conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Naim Lyons - Racketeering (and conspiracy), Official misconduct (and conspiracy), Sell electronic devices in jail (conspiracy for same), Conspiracy to distribute CDS, Money laundering (and conspiracy for same).

Clifford Jones - Racketeering (and conspiracy for same), Sell cell phones in correctional facility (conspiracy for same), Conspiracy to distribute CDS, Money laundering (and conspiracy for same).

Lorin Wright - Racketeering, Conspiracy to commit racketeering, Possession of electronic device in correctional facility, Conspiracy to possess electronic device in jail, Possession of CDS, Possess with intent to distribute CDS, Conspiracy to distribute CDS, Money laundering, Conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Santia Manassanet - Racketeering, Conspiracy to commit Racketeering, Possession with intent to distribute CDS, Possession with intent to distribute CDS, Possession of CDS, Possession of handguns, Possession of handguns while committing CDS offenses, Production facilities of heroin, cocaine, and marijuana, Conspiracy to distribute CDS, Money laundering, Conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Joshua Cortes - Racketeering, Conspiracy to commit racketeering, Possession with intent to distribute CDS, Conspiracy to distribute CDS, Money laundering, Conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Selina Acevedo - Racketeering (and conspiracy), Conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Jeanette Campbell - Racketeering, Conspiracy to commit racketeering, Conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Howard Dunns - Possessing phone in jail and conspiracy for same.

Anthony Hamilton - Racketeering (and conspiracy for same), Distribute CDS, Possess with intent to distribute CDS, Conspiracy to distribute CDS, Money laundering (and conspiracy for same).

Scott Dorn - Racketeering, Conspiracy to commit racketeering, Distribute CDS, Conspiracy to distribute CDS, Money laundering, Conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Tashaun Pressley - Racketeering, Conspiracy to commit racketeering, Distribute CDS, Conspiracy to distribute CDS, Money laundering, Conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Rawkwon McKenney - Racketeering, Conspiracy to commit racketeering, Distribute CDS, Conspiracy to distribute CDS, Money laundering, Conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Barry Bethea - Racketeering (and conspiracy), Distribute CDS, Possess with intent to distribute CDS, Conspiracy to distribute CDS, Money laundering (and conspiracy for same).

Theresa Strong - Racketeering, Conspiracy to commit racketeering, Possession with intent to distribute CDS, Possession of CDS, Conspiracy to distribute CDS, Money laundering, Conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Shamal Harvey - Possessing a phone in jail and conspiracy for same.

Zachary Michael - Racketeering (and conspiracy), Money laundering (and conspiracy).

Brian Campbell - Racketeering (and conspiracy for same), Distribute CDS, Possession with intent to distribute CDS, Conspiracy to distribute CDS, Money laundering (conspiracy for same).