An Egg Harbor Township man pleaded guilty Tuesday in connection to the drug induced death of a Margate woman last year, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner said.
Philip Eldred, 30, pleaded guilty to the strict liability drug-induced death of 22-year-old Caroline Boothby at her home.
George Stokes allegedly ran the narcotics-trafficking network that has been linked to the fentanyl-related deaths of Boothby, Hector Santos, 29, and William Ang, 33.
“Drug dealers should be aware that if you sell drugs that cause the death of others, they will be charged with homicide,” Tyner said when he announced the indictments in February of Stokes and the 10 people allegedly working for his drug-trafficking network, including Eldred.
STOKES
Eldred also pleaded to operating a drug-manufacturing facility and unlawful possession of a handgun.
Individual investigations into each of the three drug related deaths was undertaken by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Drug Related Death Squad. After months of investigation, it was concluded that the fatal drugs in each case—specifically, fentanyl—were distributed by George Stokes as part of a narcotics trafficking operation he led in Atlantic City throughout 2017. It was also discovered that he maintained multiple CDS manufacturing premises in Atlantic City and Hamilton Township for the production and packaging of the drugs, which included heroin and fentanyl.
Eldred remains in custody at the Atlantic County Justice Facility. Eldred’s sentencing is Oct. 5, before Judge Benjamin Podolnick.
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