Large Scale Racketeering Drug Network Arrested in Atlantic County
Friday, April 30, 2021
MAYS LANDING— An Atlantic County Grand Jury has handed up an indictment against 30 defendants who were part of a Racketeer Influenced & Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, large-scale drug distribution organization where $2.6 million in cash has been seized and three of the men named in the indictment are also charged in connection to the fatal February 2019 shooting of Demond Tally in Atlantic City, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner announced.
From March 2017, to the present date an investigation was conducted by the ACPO Guns, Gangs and Narcotics Unit into Steven Martinez, 27, and Shiraz Khan, 31, for operating a large-scale drug distribution organization in Atlantic County since 2016. As the leaders of this organization Martinez and Khan supplied large quantities of narcotics, including, heroin, cocaine, Suboxone, Percocet and marijuana to be sold by various individuals who operated as drug dealers for the organization.
“The four year investigation of the activities of the criminal organization led by Steven Martinez and Shiraz Kahn is a credit to the women and men of the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office and many of the local law enforcement agencies that provided assistance, such as Egg Harbor Twp. Police Department, Atlantic City Police Department, and Galloway Twp. Police Department,” said Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner.
Khan continued to operate this drug distribution organization while incarcerated at the Atlantic County Justice Facility by utilizing cellphones and narcotics he had smuggled into the jail by Correctional Police Officer Luis Mercado, 26. Several other individuals in this investigation were previously arrested for possession of firearms and the distribution of CDS for the organization during the course of this investigation. Atlantic County Correctional Police Lt. Patrick Robinson assisted in this investigation through the Investigations Unit at the Atlantic County Justice Facility.
“The hard work by law enforcement culminated in the indictment of thirty individuals for numerous crimes, including but not limited to murder, distribution and possession of large quantities of drugs, and money laundering,” Prosecutor Tyner said.
Assets seized during the course of this extensive investigation include: $2.6 million U.S. currency, eight parcels of land in locations, including Hamilton Township, Pleasantville and Buena Borough and three vehicles.
Khan, Martinez, and several other members of this organization were known to be armed and dangerous. In addition to narcotics offenses in the indictment Martinez, along with Shamar Scott, 25, and Deshawn Hose, 23, are responsible for the shooting and killing of Demond Tally, 45, Feb. 10, 2019. Atlantic City Police Department responded to ShotSpotter at 5:13 a.m., on Feb. 10, 2019 in the area of Presbyterian Ave., in Atlantic City, where Tally was found shot. Tally was transported to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center City Campus Trauma Unit, where he was pronounced deceased. Martinez, Scott and Hose are charged and have each been indicted with Murder and Conspiracy charges in connection to the fatal shooting of Tally.
“Effective partnerships between law enforcement agencies at all levels of government are essential to public safety. This extensive investigation is an example of the great teamwork that exists here in Atlantic County. While we know that these charges will not bring their loved one back, we hope that this will bring some comfort and peace to the Tally family,” Atlantic City Police Interim Officer in Charge James A. Sarkos.
Investigations are ongoing in connection to other acts of violence committed by this organization. This investigation and ongoing investigations are a cooperative effort by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, Atlantic County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, Atlantic County Sheriff’s Office, Atlantic City Police Department, Egg Harbor Township Police Department and Galloway Township Police Department.
Chief Assistant Prosecutor Seth Levy represents the state in the matters.
DEFENDANTS & CHARGES
Shiraz Khan
o Racketeering
o Conspiracy to commit Racketeering
o Leader of a Narcotics trafficking network
o Possession with intent to distribute CDS
o Possession with intent to distribute CDS near a school zone
o Possession of CDS
o Forgery
o Official misconduct
o Conspiracy to commit official misconduct
o Bribery
o Possession of electronic devices in a correctional facility
o Selling electronic devices in a correctional facility
o Conspiracy to possess and/or sell electronic devices in a correctional facility
o Conspiracy to distribute CDS
o Money laundering
o Conspiracy to commit money laundering
Steven Martinez
o Racketeering
o Conspiracy to commit Racketeering
o Leader of a Narcotics trafficking network
o Murder and conspiracy
o Possession with intent to distribute CDS
o Possession with intent to distribute CDS near a school zone
o Possession of CDS
o Distribution of CDS
o Possession of handguns
o Possession of bullets and extended magazines
o Possession of handguns while committing CDS offenses
o Production facilities of heroin, cocaine, and marijuana
o Forgery
o Conspiracy to distribute CDS
o Money laundering
o Conspiracy to commit money laundering
o Certain person not to have weapons
Kevin Moulden
o Racketeering
o Conspiracy to commit racketeering
o Possess large capacity ammunition magazine
o Possess hollow nose bullets
o Maintained heroin and cocaine production facilities
o Possession with intent to distribute CDS
o Possession of handguns
o Possession of handguns while committing CDS related offenses
o Official misconduct
o Conspiracy for off. Misc.
o Possess and sell electronic devices in jail
o Conspiracy to distribute CDS
o Money laundering
o Conspiracy to launder money
o Certain persons not to have weapons
· Robert Strong
o Racketeering
o Conspiracy to commit racketeering
o Leader of a narcotics trafficking network
o Distribution of CDS
o Possession of large capacity magazine
o Possession of hollow nose bullets
o Maintain a heroin and cocaine production facility
o Possession with intent to distribute CDS
o Possession of handguns
o Possession of handguns while committing CDS related offenses
o Possess CDS near public property
o Conspiracy to distribute CDS
o Money laundering
o Conspiracy to commit money laundering
o Certain persons not to have weapons
Laura Corcino
o Racketeering
o Conspiracy to commit racketeering
o Bribery
o Official misconduct
o Conspiracy to commit official misconduct
o Sell electronic devices in correctional facility
o Conspiracy to sell electronic devices in correctional facility
o Conspiracy to distribute CDS
o Money laundering
o Conspiracy to commit money laundering
Luis Mercado
o Racketeering
o Conspiracy to commit racketeering
o Bribery
o Offical misconduct
o Conspiracy to commit official misconduct
o Selling electronic devices in correctional facility
o Conspiracy to sell electronic devices in correctional facility
o Conspiracy to distribute CDS
o Money laundering
o Conspiracy to commit money laundering
Alexis Owens
o Racketeering and conspiracy for same
o Possession with intent to distribute CDS
o Conspiracy to distribute CDS
o Official misconduct and conspiracy
o Sell phones in jail and conspiracy for same
o Money laundering and conspiracy for same
Mehmmad Rehman
o Racketeering and conspiracy for same
o Possession with intent to distribute CDS
o Conspiracy to distribute CDS
o Official misconduct and conspiracy
o Sell phones in jail and conspiracy for same
o Money laundering and conspiracy for same
Shamar Scott
o Racketeering (and conspiracy)
o Murder and conspiracy
o Unlawful possession of handgun and possession of handgun for unlawful purpose
o Money laundering
o Conspiracy to distribute CDS
o Certain person not to have weapons
Shaquille Scott
o Racketeering (and conspiracy)
o Conspiracy to distribute CDS
o Money laundering (and conspiracy)
Isaiah Newsome
o Racketeering (and conspiracy for same)
o Official misconduct (and conspiracy for same)
o Possess and sell phones in jail (and conspiracy for same)
o Possess CDS
o Possess with intent to distribute CDS
o Money laundering (and conspiracy for same)
Jahleem Montague-Williams
o Racketeering
o Conspiracy to commit racketeering
o Sell electronic devices in correctional facility
o Conspiracy to sell electronic devices in correctional facility
o Conspiracy to distribute CDS
o Money laundering
o Conspiracy to commit money laundering
Naim Lyons
o Racketeering (and conspiracy)
o Official misconduct (and conspiracy)
o Sell electronic devices in jail (conspiracy for same)
o Conspiracy to distribute CDS
o Money laundering (and conspiracy for same)
Clifford Jones
o Racketeering )and conspiracy for same)
o Sell cell phones in correctional facility (conspiracy for same)
o Conspiracy to distribute CDS
o Money laundering (and conspiracy for same)
Lorin Wright
o Racketeering
o Conspiracy to commit racketeering
o Possession of electronic device in correctional facility
o conspiracy to possess electronic device in jail
o possession of CDS
o possess with intent to distribute CDS
o conspiracy to distribute CDS
o money laundering
o conspiracy to commit money laundering
Santia Manassanet
o Racketeering
o Conspiracy to commit Racketeering
o Possession with intent to distribute CDS
o Possession with intent to distribute CDS
o Possession of CDS
o Possession of handguns
o Possession of handguns while committing CDS offenses
o Production facilities of heroin, cocaine, and marijuana
o Conspiracy to distribute CDS
o Money laundering
o Conspiracy to commit money laundering
Joshua Cortes
o Racketeering
o Conspiracy to commit racketeering
o Possession with intent to distribute CDS
o Conspiracy to distribute CDS
o Money laundering
o Conspiracy to commit money laundering
Selina Acevedo
o Racketeering (and conspiracy)
o Conspiracy to commit money laundering
Jeanette Campbell
o Racketeering
o Conspiray to commit racketeering
o Conspiracy to commit money laundering
Howard Dunns
o Possessing phone in jail and conspiracy for same
Anthony Hamilton
o Racketeering (and conspiracy for same)
o Distribute CDS
o Possess with intent to distribute CDS
o Conspiracy to distribute CDS
o Money laundering (and conspiracy for same)
Scott Dorn
o Rakceteering
o Conspiracy to commit racketeering
o Distribute CDS
o Conspiracy to distribute CDS
o Money laundering
o Conspiracy to commit money laundering
Tashaun Pressley
o Rakceteering
o Conspiracy to commit racketeering
o Distribute CDS
o Conspiracy to distribute CDS
o Money laundering
o Conspiracy to commit money laundering
Rawkwon McKenney
o Racketeering
o Conspiracy to commit racketeering
o Distribute CDS
o Conspiracy to distribute CDS
o Money laundering
o Conspiracy to commit money laundering
Barry Bethea
o Racketeering (and conspiracy)
o Distribute CDS
o Possess with intent to distribute CDS
o Conspiracy to distribute CDS
o Money laundering (and conspiracy for same)
Theresa Strong
o Racketeering
o Conspiracy to commit racketeering
o Possession with intent to distribute CDS
o Possession of CDS
o Conspiracy to distribute CDS
o Money laundering
o Conspiracy to commit money laundering
Shamal Harvey
o Possessing a phone in jail and conspiracy for same
Zachary Michael
o Racketeering (and conspiracy)
o Money laundering (and conspiracy)
Brian Campbell
o Racketeering (and conspiracy for same)
o Distribute CDS
o Possession with intent to distribute CDS
o Conspiracy to distribute CDS
o Money laundering (conspiracy for same)
Deshawn Hose
o Racketeering and conspiracy
o Murder and conspiracy
o Possessing a handgun and possessing for unlawful purpose
o Money laundering and conspiracy
o Certain persons not to have weapons
***These charges are merely an accusation and not proof of guilt. In all criminal cases, a charged defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ***
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Anyone with information involving serious crimes is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office Web site at http://www.acpo.org/tips.html and provide information by filling out the form anonymously on the Submit a Tip page. People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS) or visit the Crime Stoppers Website at http://www.crimestoppersatlantic.com/. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in Atlantic County.