EHT man gets 14 years in heroin-trafficking ring

An Egg Harbor Township man was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison for his role in drug distribution scheme.

Ricardo Clavijo, 42, pleaded guilty last year to conspiring to distribute more than a kilogram of heroin, possession with intent to distribute and maintaining a drug-related premises.

Clavijo and his brother, Christopher Gonzalez, were arrested after authorities found a drug-packaging facility in the basement of his home during a search July 12, 2021.

Police found 4.3 kilograms of heroin, 5.5 kilograms of fentanyl, 10.8 kilograms of cocaine, drug-packaging materials and equipment, and a money counting machine, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said.

Some of the heroin was already packaged in tens of thousands of individual doses, ready for street-level distribution. Agents also seized a .45-caliber handgun, a loaded magazine, a 9mm 50-round drum magazine and $8,457 in cash.

The gun, ammunition and money was forfeited as part of the guilty plea.

In addition to the prison term, Clavijo will be on supervised parole for five years after his release.

Gonzalez also pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.

Two arrested after more than 15 kilos of drugs found in EHT home

Two Atlantic County men face federal charges after investigators found more than 15 kilograms of drugs and a gun in an Egg Harbor Township home. It was “the largest single seizure of drugs in the history of Atlantic County,” said Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner, whose office assisted in the case. Ricardo Clavijo, 39, of…