TRENTON, NJ—A California man today admitted shipping large quantities of cocaine from California to a drug trafficking organization that operated in Ocean and Monmouth Counties and elsewhere in New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Marlon Ramos, 31, of Redlands, California, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan in Trenton federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine.

In March 2014, 21 other alleged members of the drug trafficking organization to which Ramos supplied narcotics were charged by criminal complaint with conspiring to distribute heroin. The complaint referred to the drug trafficking organization as the “Britt-Young DTO,” after its leaders, Robert Britt, a/k/a “True,” and Rufus Young, a/k/a “Equan,” a/k/a “E-Money,” a/k/a “Kintock.” Of those 21 individuals, 18 have pleaded guilty.

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

Between November 2013 and March 2014, Ramos conspired with others, including Thomas Shannon, a/k/a “Cuzzo,” 36, of Jersey City, New Jersey, one of the Britt-Young DTO’s primary heroin suppliers, to ship large quantities of heroin and cocaine from California to New Jersey. Afterwards, New Jersey conspirators re-packaged the narcotics for distribution to others, including members of the Britt-Young DTO, and deposited cash into bank accounts provided by the California suppliers. Ramos admitted today that he used a bank account in his own name to receive payments. He also admitted shipping at least one kilogram of cocaine as part of the conspiracy.

The conspiracy charge to which Ramos pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 17, 2015.

On June 5, 2015, Shannon was charged by indictment with narcotics distribution, illegal possession and use of firearms, and transacting in criminal proceeds. The charges against him are merely accusations and he is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, Red Bank Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Richard M. Frankel, with the investigation leading to today’s plea.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Grippo of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.