Eight New Jersey Men Indicted in Heroin Trafficking Ring
| U.S. Attorney’s Office July 10, 2012 |
CAMDEN, NJ—A federal grand jury for the District of New Jersey, sitting in Camden, today returned a superseding indictment against eight New Jersey men involved in a heroin distribution conspiracy, United States Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Jamal Reid, 27, of Mays Landing; Jamahl Daniels, 31, of Plainfield; Courtney Broomfield, 25, of Atlantic City; Leroy Farmer, 37, of Sicklerville; Edward Brown, Jr., 23, of Atlantic City; Nassaun Hines, 27, of Pleasantville; Baseem Taliaferro, 26, of Mays Landing; and Matthew Palmer, 25, of Sicklerville, were charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin. In addition, Reid, Broomfield, and Hines were each charged in separate counts with possession of a weapon by a previously convicted felon.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From late 2009 and through late May 2010, law enforcement officers identified the defendants as part of an alleged large-scale, criminal organization that distributed more than one kilogram of heroin throughout the southern New Jersey area. Reid was the alleged organizer and leader of the ring (the “Jamal Reid Organization”), and he coordinated at least six deliveries of heroin from the northern New Jersey area to southern New Jersey between March 2010 and May 2010. Daniels was allegedly the “connect,” or supplier, of the heroin. Broomfield, Farmer, Brown, Hines, Taliaferro, Palmer, and Harmon were alleged associates of the organization. They received new supplies of heroin on behalf of Reid, and they delivered new supplies of heroin on behalf of Reid to other associates, or they distributed and sold heroin bought from Reid throughout the southern New Jersey area. At various times, they collected and/or stored money on behalf of Reid.
All defendants were previously charged by complaint on January 20, 2012. Hines was previously indicted on the felon in possession charge on October 18, 2011. Reid, Daniels, Broomfield, Hines, and Taliaferro subsequently were taken into federal custody, where they have remained since that time. Farmer is currently detained on state drug charges in South Carolina and will be brought to New Jersey for arraignment on these charges. Brown and Palmer are fugitives.
If convicted of the narcotics offense, each defendant faces a minimum potential penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a $10 million fine. If convicted of the firearms offenses, Reid, Broomfield, and Hines each face a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents from the FBI’s Atlantic City Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward in Newark; special agents from the ATF, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Matthew W. Horace, in Newark; and the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office and Pleasantville Police Department, for the investigation leading to the indictment.
The charges and allegations contained in the superseding indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason M. Richardson and Alyson M. Oswald of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.