The admitted leader of a deadly Atlantic City drug-trafficking ring was sentenced to 20 years in prison Tuesday.
George Stokes, 44, also received three 10-year sentences for each of the overdose deaths his enterprise caused. They will all be served concurrent to the 20-year term.
Stokes admitted in October that he provided drugs to three dealers that resulted in the deaths of Hector Santos, William Ang Jr. and Caroline Boothby.
“I would get (the drugs) from my hometown, I would come back to Atlantic City and several people who did drugs would sell them for me on my behalf,” Stokes said during the plea.
All of the sentences are concurrent. There is no minimum for the 20-year sentence. But he must serve at least 8½ years of the 10-year sentences, under the No Early Release Act.
On March 19, 2017, Stokes gave drugs to Angel Cruz that led to the overdose death of Santos, who died at his Atlantic City home.
Cruz was not charged with the death, but is serving a three-year sentence on drug charges. His maximum release date is April 19, 2023.
Stokes also provided heroin with fentanyl to Jesus Baker on June 2, 2017.
Those drugs made their way to Ang, who died in his Somers Point home.
Baker is serving a five-year sentence for the drug-induced death under the No Early Release Act. He was sentenced this past July, but time served since his 2017 arrest has him eligible for parole this Nov. 24. His maximum release date is May 28, 2025.
His maximum release date is Nov. 17, 2023.
Stokes received credit for the time he’s been in the Atlantic County jail, which is about three years and nine months. He also forfeited $3,675.
