Juan Howard, Alvin Whitaker and James Clegg
Three Atlantic City men arrested in a 2023 sting that led to more than a pound of cocaine and 10,000 bags of heroin were sentenced to prison last week.
The Special Investigations Section was watching a home Carver Hall as part of an investigation into a residence being used to store and distribute narcotics.
They arrested Alvin Whitaker, Juan Howard and James Clegg on Nov. 8, 2023, in the 1300 block of Caspian Avenue. A fourth man on the scene also was arrested on a minor drug charge and released on a summons.
Whitaker, now 33, was sentenced to 10 years in prison Thursday, after pleading guilty to first-degree possession of cocaine and fourth-degree contempt of a drug offender restraining order. At the time of his arrest, he had a pending drug case from that January, BreakingAC previously reported.
Juan Howard, 31, and James Clegg, 34, each was sentenced to five years in prison for second-degree conspiracy to distribute five ounces or more of cocaine. Clegg also pleaded guilty to a third-degree charge of possession of heroin with intent to distribute in a school zone.
The surveillance of the home led police to see Clegg go into the apartment on the day of the arrests, with Whitaker outside in a vehicle counting money.
Clegg then left the apartment and got into the vehicle with Whitaker, leading to a motor vehicle stop after the two drove off.
Detectives found approximately 50 folds of heroin stamped "Gorilla" in Clegg’s pocket. There was also about $8,434 in cash in the vehicle.
During the stop, Howard arrived on scene, and was arrested on a warrant. He also was found with about $1,020 on him.
A search of the Carver Hall apartment led to more than five ounces of cocaine, more than 10,000 folds of heroin with the same "Gorilla" stamp and assorted paraphernalia commonly used for packaging drugs.
Surveillance video and other investigation led police to determine that Whitaker, Clegg and Howard were using the apartment in furtherance of a conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine.
The men remain jailed pending transfer to state prison.
