Six people were arrested, drugs seized and four handguns recovered in a six-month investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office and DEA, Prosecutor Damon Tyner announced Wednesday.
The Liberty Mid-Atlantic High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area investigation resulted in six search warrants served in Atlantic City on Tuesday and one in Lindenwold.
“The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office is grateful for the resources that are available to our community through our membership in the Liberty Atlantic HIDTA,” Tyner said. “Collaborating with the DEA and other local law enforcement agencies gives us a force multiplier in our efforts to reduce the amount of guns and drugs in our community. Our goal is to disrupt the criminal activity at a higher level, before it ever reaches our streets.”
About 2,890 bags of heroin, three pounds of marijuana, extended handgun magazines and various firearm ammunition was recovered, according to the report.
“This was a very successful operation,” said Susan Gibson, special agent in charge of the DEA’s New Jersey Division. “Any time we can take people off the street involved in drugs and weapons is a benefit to the community. This type of investigation is why Atlantic County is part of the Liberty Mid-Atlantic HIDTA, and we look forward to continuing our partnerships.”
Felix Beltran Sr. 38, his 21-year-old son, Felix Jr., along with Kenneth Thompson Jr., 20, and Eric Williams, 21, were each charged with three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a narcotics violation, two counts each of possession of a community gun, possession of a large-capacity ammunition magazine, possession with the intent to distribute narcotics, possession within a school zone, three counts of conspiracy, and a count each of marijuana and cocaine possession.
Thompson and Williams were additionally charged with possession of a stolen firearm.
Chinkume Cannon, 37, was charged with possession of marijuana, possession with intent to distribute and conspiracy to distribute marijuana.
Kareem Ellerbee, 21, was charged with possession of heroin and distribution of heroin.
The arrests came less than a week after 22 people were charged in a drug-trafficking ring that allegedly flooded Atlantic City's streets with heroin.
NOTE: This story originally ran at 10 a.m. July 2. It has been updated to add details, including arrests.
