A third Atlantic County man has been ordered held pending trial in
a 97-count guns and drugs case allegedly tied to a local street gang.
Tariq Tucker, 26, of Mays Landing, will stay in the Atlantic County Justice Facility until the case is resolved, Superior Court Judge Rodney Cunningham ruled in granting the state’s motion for detention.
Kiona Dorsey was allowed release with conditions.
Co-defendant Isaiah Cooper, 28, of Pleasantville, already was ordered detained. Umar Salahuddin, who along with Cooper is also charged with operating or maintaining a drug-production facility, is in South Woods State Prison for a previous conviction that included aggravated assault and various gun charges.
Cunningham released the fourth defendant in the case, Kiona Dorsey, who has no prior criminal history. She has two pending drug cases that are non-violent, and must check in with the court monthly.
As part of the investigation, law enforcement seized multiple firearms, including a loaded Smith & Wesson handgun, a loaded Ruger handgun with a high-capacity magazine, an Action Arms Uzi-type sub machine gun and multiple extended magazines, a large capacity drum magazine containing hollow point bullets, a .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun, and more than 100 rounds of hollow-point and ball ammunition, according to the charges, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner said.
Drugs, including multiple wax folds containing heroin and a quantity of cocaine, were also seized.
In addition to various counts of heroin and cocaine distribution against all four, the three men are also charged with first-degree gang criminality in possessing firearms and distributing drugs while in association with — or for the benefit of — the South Side Mob criminal street gang, which is based in Pleasantville.
