| TRENTON – Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman announced that a Camden man was sentenced to state prison today for his leadership role in a major narcotics network with ties to the Ñetas street gang that was dealing large quantities of heroin in the area of 4th and Royden Streets in Camden. The ring was dismantled in 2012 through “Operation Billboard,” led by the Division of Criminal Justice.
Fred Alvarado, 49, of Camden, an upper-level manager for the ring, was sentenced today to 10 years in state prison, including 8 ½ years of parole ineligibility, by Superior Court Judge John T. Kelley in Camden. He pleaded guilty on April 29 to first-degree racketeering. Deputy Attorney General Andrew B. Johns, the lead prosecutor for Operation Billboard, handled today’s sentencing. DAG Johns has been assisted by all of the members of the Division of Criminal Justice Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau.
Thirty-six alleged members of the ring, including senior leader Noel Gonzalez, 44, a reputed member of the Ñetas, and his partner, Michael Rivera, 30, of Camden, were indicted on Jan. 9, 2013, as a result of Operation Billboard, which was led by the Division of Criminal Justice, with assistance from the Camden Police Department, Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, New Jersey State Police and federal agents from ICE Homeland Security Investigations. Nineteen defendants have been sentenced to state prison since November, including Alvarado. Eight other defendants have pleaded guilty and await sentencing to prison terms. Gonzalez died of natural causes in June 2013, with the charges against him pending. Michael Rivera faces charges that include the first-degree crime of leader of a narcotics trafficking network, which carries a sentence of life in prison, including 25 years without parole.
“By shutting down this heroin ring, which controlled open-air drug markets in a large section of Camden near the Central Waterfront, we had an immediate impact in reducing violence and improving the quality of life for residents,” said Acting Attorney General Hoffman. “With nearly 30 guilty pleas so far, we’re keeping these drug dealers behind bars so they can’t reestablish their reign of violence.”
“In the past three years, we’ve taken down three major heroin rings in Camden with our law enforcement partners,” said Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice. “Through these operations, we’ve assisted the Camden County Police Department in their highly successful efforts to curb violence, and we’ve eliminated significant suppliers of the heroin that is destroying far too many lives in New Jersey.”
The investigation revealed that Gonzalez and Rivera ran a large-scale drug distribution network that was dealing up to tens of thousands of dollars in heroin per week. In addition to Gonzalez, the leadership of the network included other members of the Ñetas and Latin Kings street gangs. The network had a well-defined hierarchy and used guns and violence to protect its territory.
These 18 defendants were sentenced since November. All pleaded guilty to racketeering, except where other charges are indicated, and all are from Camden, except where other hometowns are indicated:
- William Alvarez, 38. Sentenced Nov. 22 to 8 years in prison, with 4 years parole ineligibility.
- Miguel Bello, 23, of Pennsauken. Sentenced Dec. 6 to 5 years in prison, with 2 ½ years parole ineligibility.
- Wilkins Castro, 34. Sentenced Jan. 10 to 7 years in prison, with 3 years parole ineligibility.
- Cindy Scanes, 28. Sentenced Jan. 17 to 7 years in prison, with 3 years parole ineligibility.
- JessMarie Ramirez, 32. Sentenced Jan. 17 to 7 years in prison, with 3 years parole ineligibility. Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute narcotics and distribution in a school zone.
- Calvin Lewis, 24, of Blackwood. Sentenced Jan. 17 to 5 years in prison, with 2 ½ years parole ineligibility.
- Jonathan Vasquez, 20. Sentenced Jan. 17 to 5 years in prison.
- Jonathan Roman, 24. Sentenced Jan. 24 to 7 years in prison, with 3 years parole ineligibility. Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute narcotics and distribution in a school zone.
- Victoria Ventura, 25. Sentenced Jan. 24 to 5 years in prison, with 2 ½ years parole ineligibility.
- Victor Serrano, 21. Sentenced Jan. 31 to 5 years in prison.
- William Rivera, 22. Sentenced Jan. 31 to 5 years in prison, with 2 ½ years parole ineligibility.
- Dewayne Shines, 23. Sentenced Feb. 14 to 5 years in prison.
- Hassan Torres, 26. Sentenced Feb. 14 to 5 years in prison, with 2 years parole ineligibility. Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute narcotics and distribution in a school zone.
- Jose O. Diaz, 22. Sentenced March 21 to 6 years in prison, with 2 years parole ineligibility. Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute narcotics and distribution in a school zone.
- Juan Santana, 55. Sentenced March 28 to 6 years in prison, with 3 years parole ineligibility.
- Angel Martinez, 29. Sentenced May 2 to 9 years in prison, with 3 years parole ineligibility.
- Edguardo Ortiz, 22. Sentenced May 2 to 7 years in prison, with 3 years parole ineligibility.
- Sebastian Cordero, 21. Sentenced May 23 to 6 years in prison, with 3 years parole ineligibility. Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute narcotics and distribution in a school zone.
These eight defendants are awaiting sentencing. All pleaded guilty to racketeering, except where other charges are indicated, and all are from Camden.
- Timothy Peters, 25. Faces sentence of 5 years in prison, with 2 ½ years parole ineligibility.
- Luis Vazquez, 22. Faces sentence of 5 years in prison, with 2 years parole ineligibility.
- Julio Medina, 23. Faces sentence of 5 years in prison, with 2 years parole ineligibility. Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute narcotics and distribution in a school zone.
- Michael Ortiz, 21. Faces sentence of 7 years in prison, with 3 years parole ineligibility.
- Christopher Vasquez, 23. Faces sentence of 7 years in prison, with 3 years parole ineligibility. Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute narcotics and distribution in a school zone.
- George Rivera, 29. Faces sentence of 7 years in prison, with 3 years parole ineligibility.
- Samuel Serrano, 26. Faces sentence of 6 years in prison, with 2 years parole ineligibility.
- Giovanni Mercado, 23. Faces sentence of five years in prison. Pleaded guilty to distribution of narcotics in a school zone.
At the time of the initial arrests, investigators executed search warrants at Gonzalez’s residence and four other residences. During the arrests and searches, authorities seized approximately three-quarters of a kilo of heroin; approximately $52,000 in cash; about $20,000 in counterfeit U.S. currency, and a .40-caliber handgun. Eight vehicles also were seized.
Operation Billboard was conducted by the Division of Criminal Justice, the Camden Police Department, the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, the New Jersey State Police, and ICE Homeland Security Investigations. Assistance was provided by the Audubon Police Department and the Haddon Township Police Department. Acting Attorney General Hoffman credited Detective Peppi Pichette, Detective Brian Woolston, Detective James Blong III, Detective Jeffrey Lorman, Detective Richard Dasilva Jr., Detective Naike Kudlik, Sgt. Andrea Salvatini, and Lt. Richard Carlin of the Division of Criminal Justice, under the supervision of former Deputy Chief of Detectives Chuck Foley. He also credited Deputy Attorney General Johns and Deputy Attorney General Jill Mayer, under the direction of Assistant Attorney General Christopher Romanyshyn.
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