| TRENTON – Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman announced that 42 alleged drug dealers were indicted today by a state grand jury on charges including first-degree racketeering in “Operation North Pole,” which targeted a violent narcotics distribution enterprise, with ties to Mexican drug cartels, that was dealing millions of dollars a year in heroin and cocaine in Camden. Fourteen defendants already have pleaded guilty and face prison sentences, bringing the total number of defendants to 56.
The enterprise allegedly was led by three brothers: Omar Urbina Sr., 40, of Philadelphia, Pa., Edwin Urbina, 38, of Camden, and Edward Urbina, 35, of Camden. They allegedly controlled the open-air drug markets at and around the intersections of 4th and York Streets and 3rd and Erie Streets in North Camden, selling hundreds of thousands of dollars a month in heroin and cocaine. The Urbinas and their associates allegedly have controlled these very lucrative drug markets for 20 years, relying on violence to protect their turf from interlopers. The Urbina brothers are charged with leading a narcotics trafficking network, a first-degree crime carrying a sentence of 25 years to life in state prison. In addition to first-degree racketeering, all of the defendants are charged with first-degree distribution of narcotics and/or possession with intent to distribute narcotics, as well as second-degree conspiracy.
The indictment charges four alleged suppliers for the enterprise, including Rigo Bello, 39, of Camden, who allegedly used his ties to Mexican drug cartels to act as the ring’s primary supplier of heroin and cocaine. Bello is being sought as a fugitive. The investigation revealed that the enterprise was large, highly structured and extremely well-organized. The Urbinas not only distributed heroin and cocaine using their own packaging, but they also allowed others to “rent” certain blocks or corners to distribute their own drugs in a different type of packaging. In return for cash payments, the Urbinas provided protection to the “tenants.” One alleged ring member, Oscar Orta, 42, of Camden, was permitted to sell his own cocaine in exchange for working as the enterprise’s “enforcer,” using threats and violence to ensure that only approved heroin and cocaine were sold at the Urbinas’ locations.
The Division of Criminal Justice Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau conducted Operation North Pole with assistance from the Camden County Police Department-Metro Division, Camden County Sheriff’s Department, Pennsauken Police Department and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations in Cherry Hill. Numerous agencies, including the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, helped execute arrest and search warrants during the takedown of the ring in November 2013, when most of the defendants were arrested.
“We targeted this major drug ring not only because of the trail of violence and devastation that it was leaving in Camden, but also because the open-air drug markets the Urbinas allegedly controlled were a primary source of heroin for suburban addicts, who easily accessed them from public transportation or the highway,” said Acting Attorney General Hoffman. “In dismantling this criminal enterprise, we struck a blow both to suppress violence in the city and to stem the flow of deadly heroin claiming far too many young lives across New Jersey.”
“The takedown of this narcotics network last November was the biggest drug bust in Camden in over a decade,” said Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice. “The Urbinas had grown their drug dynasty in North Camden for at least 20 years, and when we targeted them, we aimed for everyone from the leaders right down to the street-level dealers. We cleaned them out of this area.”
The enterprise operated multiple drug sets at and near 4th and York Streets and 3rd and Erie Streets. In addition, the Urbinas allegedly granted permission to individual members to sell heroin or cocaine on specific blocks within the territory in exchange for “rent,” a weekly or monthly cash payment to them. The lucrative nature of their territory is evidenced by the rents charged. Individual tenants would pay upward of $50,000 per month for the privilege to deal drugs on the Urbinas turf. Several individuals allegedly held a higher status as “franchisers.” These individuals, who showed loyalty to the Urbinas as caseworkers, would simply be allowed to purchase separate quantities of drugs to distribute on their own.
A number of ring members have violent criminal records or ties to street gangs, and the ring routinely employed violence to protect its territory and enforce its rules. An example is a shooting at 4th and York Streets on May 4, 2013 that left a 17-year-old male paralyzed below the waist, after he was caught in the crossfire and was hit in the neck. One defendant, Anthony Morris, 25, of Camden, is charged with aggravated assault, attempted aggravated assault and weapons offenses as an alleged gunman in the shooting, which allegedly involved a dispute with drug dealers from an opposing set who were encroaching on the Urbinas’ turf. A second example is the beating of a drug dealer who stole heroin from a tenant of the Urbinas and did not have the money to repay him. The alleged tenant, Jose Ruiz, 41, of Camden, and alleged ring member, Alex Santos, 34, of Camden, are charged with aggravated assault in that beating.
The enterprise allegedly had a clear hierarchical structure headed by the Urbina brothers, Omar Sr., Edwin and Edward. Omar allegedly was the senior leader and had final say when decisions were being made about operations. Under the Urbina brothers was defendant Eric Serrano Jr., 30, of Pennsauken, who allegedly acted as a “controller.” He allegedly was a conduit between the Urbinas and the next level of the organization, called “case workers.” These case workers served as the direct street-level supervisors of the “trappers,” or dealers and “lookouts.” The trappers were the lowest and largest level of the organization and conducted the majority of the hand-to-hand drug transactions on the drug sets.
The 42 defendants indicted in Operation North Pole allegedly filled the following roles in the drug network and are charged as follows in the 20-count indictment:
Leaders
- Omar Urbina Sr., 40, of Philadelphia
- Edwin Urbina, 38, of Camden
- Edward Urbina, 35, of Camden
Charges: Racketeering, Conspiracy, Leader of a Narcotics Trafficking Network, Money Laundering (Omar & Edwin Urbina only), Employing a Juvenile in a Drug Distribution Scheme, Distribution of Narcotics (and/or Possession with Intent to Distribute), Distribution of Narcotics in a School Zone, and Distribution of Narcotics Near a Public Park.
Controller
The controller helped manage the street-level employees of the enterprise, in addition to serving as a conduit between these employees and the Urbina brothers. He was responsible for the collection of profits from the sale of drugs, and the flow of money up the hierarchy to the Urbinas. He also issued orders to the case workers and trappers regarding packaging of drugs, accounting and documentation of drug proceeds, the internal operating procedures of the network, and the hiring, firing and scheduling of employees.
- Eric Serrano Jr., 30, of Pennsauken
Charges: Racketeering, Conspiracy, Money Laundering, Distribution of Narcotics (and/or Possession with Intent to Distribute), Distribution of Narcotics in a School Zone, and Distribution of Narcotics Near a Public Park.
Enforcer
- Oscar Orta, 42, of Camden
Charges: Racketeering, Conspiracy, Distribution of Narcotics (and/or Possession with Intent to Distribute), Distribution of Narcotics in a School Zone, and Distribution of Narcotics Near a Public Park.
Suppliers (4)
- Rigo Bello, 40, of Camden
- Carlos Gonzalez, 35, of Camden
- Danny Borges, 37, of Camden
- Hector Javier Mendez, 39, of Camden
Charges: Racketeering, Conspiracy, Money Laundering (Bello only), Distribution of Narcotics (and/or Possession with Intent to Distribute), Distribution of Narcotics in a School Zone, and Distribution of Narcotics Near a Public Park.
Franchisers/Tenants (5)
- Anthony Morris, 25, of Camden
- Donte Tutton, 27, of Camden
- Tyree Rozier, 23, of Camden
- Sheron Pulliam, 24, of Camden
- Jose Ruiz, 41, of Camden
Charges: Racketeering, Conspiracy, Aggravated Assault (Morris & Ruiz only), Weapons Charges (Morris only), Distribution of Narcotics (and/or Possession with Intent to Distribute), Distribution of Narcotics in a School Zone, and Distribution of Narcotics Near a Public Park.
Case Workers (10)
Case workers served as mid-level managers, coordinating the enterprise’s drug sales during their shifts. Case workers were responsible for handing out drugs to the trappers. They also were responsible for the accounting of the number of bundles that were handed out and the number that remained to be sold during the shift. Once the drugs were sold, the case workers were responsible for collecting the proceeds from the trappers.
- Saturnino Nieves, 28, Camden
- Shadi Torres, 28, of Camden
- Heriberto Nunez, 33, of Camden
- Alex Santos, 34, of Camden
- Eric McNeil, 28, of Camden
- Daniel Mistretta, 23, of Millville
- Omar Urbina Jr., 24, of Philadelphia
- David Toro, 36, of Camden
- Daniel Toro, 35, of Camden
- Pedro Colon, 41, of Camden
Charges: Racketeering, Conspiracy, Money Laundering (Nunez & Torres only), Weapons Charges (Torres & Nunez only), Aggravated Assault (Torres & Santos only), Employing a Juvenile in a Drug Distribution Scheme (Torres only), Distribution of Narcotics (and/or Possession with Intent to Distribute), Distribution of Narcotics in a School Zone, and Distribution of Narcotics Near a Public Park.
Trappers (13)
- Andre Russell, 32, of Camden
- Ulysses Serrano, 27, of Camden
- Devon Williams, 26, of Camden
- Lonnie Reevey, 25, of Camden
- Jaymeal Yeldell, 27, of Woodbury
- William Lincoln, 38, of Camden
- Antwan Saulters, 33, of Camden
- Robert Nunez, 24, of Camden
- Kevin Mena-Carmona, 27, of Camden
- Laquae St. Juste, 21, of Camden
- Eric Carabello, 29, of Camden
- Eric Trusty, 21, of Camden
- Juan Garcia, 20, of Camden
Charges: Racketeering, Conspiracy, Distribution of Narcotics (and/or Possession with Intent to Distribute), Distribution of Narcotics in a School Zone, and Distribution of Narcotics Near a Public Park.
Runners/Baggers (5)
These individuals were responsible for weighing, cutting, packaging and transporting bulk heroin and cocaine from a variety of stash houses to the controllers and case workers located on the drug sets.
- Isadiel Falcon, 28, of Camden
- Joseph Torres, 32, of Camden
- Adamm Castellar, 27, of Camden
- Raquel Medina, 36, of Camden
- Jamie Cintron, 38, of Elizabeth
Charges: Racketeering, Conspiracy, Money Laundering (Torres only), Distribution of Narcotics (and/or Possession with Intent to Distribute), Distribution of Narcotics in a School Zone, and Distribution of Narcotics Near a Public Park.
Detectives executed over a dozen search warrants in Operation North Pole, seizing more than $218,000 in cash, six guns and a first-degree quantity of cocaine. In addition, more than 10 vehicles were seized, including a “party bus.” The state has filed civil forfeiture actions with respect to the seized assets.
The defendants were lodged in the Camden County Jail after their arrests in November. Bail for each of the three Urbina brothers was set at $1 million. Bails for the other defendants range from $100,000 to $1 million.
The crime of leader of a narcotics trafficking network carries a sentence of life in state prison, including 25 years of parole ineligibility, and a criminal fine of up to $750,000. The crimes of first-degree racketeering and first-degree distribution or possession with intent to distribute narcotics carry a sentence of 10 to 20 years in state prison and a fine of up to $500,000. Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000. Third-degree crimes carry a sentence of three to five years in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000, but for narcotics charges, the fine is up to $35,000. The money laundering charge carries an enhanced criminal fine of up to $500,000, and an additional anti-money laundering penalty of $250,000. Fourth-degree charges carry a sentence of up to 18 months in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
The indictment is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The indictment was handed up to Superior Court Judge Pedro J. Jimenez Jr., who assigned the case to Camden County. A copy of the indictment is posted with this release at www.njpublicsafety.com.
Deputy Attorney General Darryl Richardson presented the indictment to the state grand jury for the Division of Criminal Justice Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau. Deputy Attorneys General Andrew Johns, Rachael Weeks, Julia S. Glass and Martin Steiner also are prosecuting the case. Detectives Peppi Pichette and Brian Woolston were the lead detectives for Operation North Pole. They worked under the supervision of Supervising Deputy Attorney General Lauren Scarpa Yfantis, Chief of the Gangs & Organized Crimes Bureau, Deputy Attorney General Kristen Harberg, Deputy Bureau Chief, and Lt. Richard Carlin. They were assisted by numerous detectives and attorneys of the Division of Criminal Justice Gangs & Organized Crimes Bureau South Unit. Deputy Attorney General Derek Miller is handling the civil forfeiture action.
Acting Attorney General Hoffman thanked the members of the Camden County Police Department-Metro Division, Camden County Sheriff’s Office, Pennsauken Police Department, and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations who assisted throughout Operation North Pole, as well as all of the agencies that assisted with the arrests.
The following agencies assisted in making arrests:
- FBI, Cherry Hill and Philadelphia Offices
- U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration/Camden High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force
- U.S. Marshals Service
- U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives
- New Jersey State Police
- New Jersey State Parole Board
- Camden County Prosecutor’s Office
- Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office
- Cherry Hill Police Department
- Gloucester Township Police Department
- Gloucester City Police Department
- Evesham Township Police Department
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