COURT HOUSE – Cape May County Grand Jury returned an indictment in connection with the “Operation Whitehouse” investigation, the several month long, large-scale narcotics investigation initiated in April 2014 by the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office Gangs, Guns and Narcotics Task Force, culminating in the execution of numerous arrests and search warrants in both Cape May and Cumberland Counties, Cape May County Prosecutor Robert Taylor announced Oct. 15.
The indictment charges the following:
Hector L. Ramos, Carlos N. Guzman and Ricardo Alatorre with leader of a narcotics trafficking network, first degree.
Ramos, Guzman, Alatorre and Ricardo Velasquez were charged with distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, heroin, first degree.
Guzman, Alatorre, Juan Montero and Romulo R. Navarro were charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, second degree, possession of a firearm while committing a certain controlled dangerous substance crime, second degree, and prohibited devices, fourth degree.
Ramos, Guzman, Alatorre, Velasquez, Montero, Serafin Garcia-Morales, Miguel Claudio, Juan Lopez, Maritza Jenkins, Carlos Valentin, Edward Perez, Jose I. Baez aka Ivan Soto, and Jose L. Holguin were charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin, second degree.
Guzman, Alatorre and Baez were charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
Leader of a Narcotics Trafficking network carries a mandatory penalty, if convicted, of life imprisonment with a 25 year period of parole ineligibility. First degree crimes carry a penalty of between 10 and 20 years New Jersey State Prison. Second degree crimes carry a penalty of between 5 and 10 years.
As a direct result of this investigation, a total of 15 kilograms of heroin and two kilograms of cocaine were seized.
The potential street value of 15 kilograms of heroin is upwards of approximately $10 to $15 million and is equivalent to approximately 650,000 individual baggies of heroin. The street value of two kilograms of cocaine is approximately half a million dollars.
In addition, approximately $225,000 cash was seized, believed to be the direct proceeds of heroin-related drug distribution activity in Cape May and Cumberland Counties.
Once again, Prosecutor Taylor commends the outstanding efforts and thanks the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, the New Jersey State Police and all of the local law enforcement agencies that assisted in this investigation.
Prosecutor Taylor continues to urge the citizens of Cape May County to report any information regarding this incident as well as any illegal activity and or any criminal activity within the community and that this information can be reported anonymously through the Cape May County Sheriff’s Tip Line at cmcsheriff.net and click on anonymous tip, or through the Cape May County Crime Stoppers at 609-465-2800 or 877-465-2801, as well as the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-465-1168.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
For previous coverage, go to:
– Operation Whitehouse Results in Seizure of Heroin, Cocaine Worth Millions: http://goo.gl/jaAu19
– $3.6 Million Worth of Heroin Seized in Narcotics Sweep, 12 Arrested: http://goo.gl/P9xmqJ.
Cape May – Caryn Elaine Johnson AKA Whoopi Goldberg did what she always does lies. She lied that a bakery wouldn' t serve her because of her race. This was a complete fabrication damaged their reputation…
