Alleged Fugitive Sought for Three Years Arrested in Atlantic City

CAMDEN, NJ—A former Atlantic County man who has allegedly been a fugitive since being charged in 2010 with multiple crimes in connection with a large-scale heroin distribution conspiracy was arrested last night in Atlantic City, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Edward Brown Jr., a/k/a “Edward Brown,” a/k/a “Eddie Brown,” a/k/a “Eddie Cane,” a/k/a “Cane,” 24, was arrested without incident at 9:30 p.m. last night by task force officers of the FBI, along with members of the Atlantic City Police Department. He will be arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joel Schneider in Camden federal court later today. Brown was charged by local law enforcement in 2010 in connection with the drug trafficking organization. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2012 and charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Beginning in March 2010, FBI special agents and members of the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office used wiretaps to intercept telephone conversations among Brown; Jamal Reid, 28, of Mays Landing, New Jersey, the alleged leader of the organization; and others. The monitored calls and other information revealed that Reid, Brown, and others were distributing large amounts of heroin. During the calls, agents overheard Reid arranging for the delivery of heroin from northern New Jersey to Sicklerville, where it would be accepted by Brown and other conspirators. Agents overheard Reid arrange the collection of money from other members of his organization to pay for the heroin, and they overheard Reid direct the sale and distribution of heroin to others. Agents observed Brown meeting with Reid and his conspirators on numerous occasions.

Reid pleaded guilty May 13, 2013, to a superseding indictment charging him with knowingly and intentionally conspiring to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and with possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. He is scheduled to be sentenced August 14, 2013.

Brown was charged by criminal complaint in January 2012. On July 10, 2012, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Brown with conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin. The charge is punishable by a minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison and a $10 million fine.

Ten people were charged for their roles in this heroin distribution conspiracy. To date, six individuals have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin, two remain incarcerated pending trial, and one individual—Matthew Palmer, a/k/a “Matt,” a/k/a “White Boy Matt,” a/k/a “White Boy—remains a fugitive.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited FBI’s Atlantic City Resident Agency Safe Streets Task Force, which during the Reid investigation consisted of task force officers from the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, the Atlantic City Police Department, the Northfield Police Department, and the Pleasantville Police Department; special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford in Newark; and special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Cannon in Newark.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alyson M. Oswald and Jason M. Richardson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.