Camden Man Charged with Leading Large-Scale Crack Cocaine Network
In Related Case, Enforcer Pleads Guilty in Connection with Killing Man who Organization Members Believed Stole Their Cocaine

CAMDEN, NJ—A Camden, N.J., man who allegedly led a drug organization that distributed at least 150 kilograms of crack cocaine over a period of 17 years has been arrested and charged for his role in the operation, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Jeffrey Jones, aka “Jazzy,” 35, was charged by complaint with conspiracy to distribute cocaine base (crack cocaine) in Camden between 1990 and 2007. He made his initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen M. Williams in Camden federal court.

“Keeping Jeffrey Jones behind bars protects the public from a criminal charged with dispensing drugs and gun violence on the streets of Camden,” U.S. Attorney Fishman said. “As described in the complaint, Jones headed a criminal organization that for nearly two decades distributed large quantities of a deadly and addictive form of cocaine. And the guilty plea we obtained from one of Jones’ violent enforcers, Larry Reddick, removes another dangerous predator from the streets of Camden.”

According to the complaint:

Jones was a leader of a large-scale organization that distributed at least 150 kilograms of cocaine from multiple locations through the city from 1990 through 2007. Jones had recently completed a five-year federal prison sentence for conspiring to possess firearms as a convicted felon in 2007 and was arrested by FBI agents Feb. 3, 2012, in Williamsport, Pa., upon completion of that sentence.

Jones purchased kilogram quantities of cocaine, along with Mack Jones, aka “Bear,” 39, of Camden, from a cocaine dealer in Camden. Jeffrey Jones converted the powder cocaine into crack cocaine and then redistributed it to the organization’s customers from several locations in different neighborhoods in Camden, including Cramer Hill, Centerville, Whitman Park and downtown Camden. Jeffrey Jones employed multiple workers to assist him in distributing the crack cocaine and he and other members of the conspiracy carried firearms while engaged in their drug trafficking activities.

Law enforcement agents received information from at least seven different cooperating witnesses who described Jeffrey Jones’ role in the drug trafficking organization and its operations in the City of Camden. While involved in drug traffcking activities, Jeffrey Jones was previously arrested or stopped by law enforcement on the following occasions:

Jeffrey Jones was arrested in Camden on Aug. 24, 1997, after a foot chase with a Camden Police officer. At the time of his arrest, Jeffrey Jones had over 200 grams of crack cocaine and officers recovered a 9-mm semi-automatic handgun with a defaced serial number that he had discarded during the chase.

On Dec. 16, 2001, Jeffrey Jones and Mack Jones were arrested by Camden police officers after two semi-automatic handguns were recovered from their vehicle.

On June 24, 2004, Jeffrey Jones and another male were arrested by Camden Police at 9th and Central Street in Camden, one block from a drug trafficking location run by Jeffrey Jones at 8th and Central. Jeffrey Jones and the other male were found to be in possession of more than $10,000 in cash and when questioned about the money, Jeffrey Jones stated that everyone had to take losses once in a while and suggested that the officers should treat their families to a vacation on him.

On Nov. 29, 2006, Jeffrey Jones and two other males were stopped by Virginia police officers in a rental car traveling through the Commonwealth of Virginia. The vehicle was ultimately searched and recovered from the vehicle was over $93,000 in cash and nine cell phones.

On Sept. 27, 2007, Jeffrey Jones and three co-conspirators were arrested in Camden after a vehicle they were riding in was stopped by Camden police. All four males were arrested and four handguns were recovered by the police officers. Jeffrey Jones pled guilty to conspiring to possess firearms as a convicted felon and was sentenced to five years in prison.

The conspiracy count with which Jones is charged carries a minimum potential penalty of 10 years in prison, and a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $4 million fine.

In a related case, on Feb. 10, 2012, Larry Reddick, 36, a/k/a “Lac,” of Camden, appeared before U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler and entered a plea of guilty to a Superseding Information charging Reddick with conspiring to distribute cocaine base in Camden with Jeffrey Jones, Mack Jones, Hashim Johnson, 31, a/k/a “Hash,” of Camden, and others from 1998 through January 2008.

Reddick was also charged with using a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in the intentional killing of Brian “Pepe” Parker on Jan. 5, 2000 at the Tioga Tavern in Camden. During the plea hearing, Reddick admitted in response to Judge Kugler’s questions that he and other members of the drug organization planned to kill Parker because they believed he was responsible for stealing a quantity of crack cocaine from a stash house in Camden in the months before his murder. Reddick admitted providing the two handguns used in the murder and waiting with his co-conspirator outside the Tioga Tavern at closing time for Parker to come outside. When Parker left the bar that night at closing time, Reddick and his co-conspirator (an unidentified member of the drug organization) chased Parker back into the bar at gunpoint and Reddick shot Parker multiple times at close range until Parker fell to the ground. Reddick and his co-conspirator then ran from the bar after the shooting.

According to the government, Reddick’s role in the drug conspiracy included acting as an armed “enforcer” for Hashim Johnson, Jeffrey Jones, and Mack Jones.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, it is being recommended to the court that Reddick be sentenced to 246 monhs in prison on each count of the superseding Information and serve 10 years of supervised release upon release from prison. Judge Kugler deferred ruling on whether to accept the plea pending completion of the pre-sentence report.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, Cherry Hill Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George Venizelos of the Philadelphia office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Camden Resident Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian R. Crowell, for the investigation which lead to these charges. He also thanked the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Warren Faulk; the Camden Police Department, under the direction of Chief Scott Thompson; and the N.J. State Police, under the direction of Col. Rick Fuentes, Superintendent.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick C. Askin and Howard Wiener of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.

The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Defense counsel:
Jones: Edward J. Plaza Esq., Red Bank, N.J.
Reddick: Rocco C. Cipparone Jr. Esq., Haddon Heights, N.J.