30 Indicted In Deadly NJ Heroin Ring: Prosecutors

MAYS LANDING, NJ — A New Jersey grand jury has handed up an indictment against 30 defendants who were part of a deadly heroin ring, authorities said.

Authorities say they busted a large-scale drug distribution organization and seized $2.6 million in cash in a large-scale drug ring that operated mainly in South Jersey.

Three named in the indictment were also charged in connection to the fatal February 2019 shooting of Demond Tally in Atlantic City, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner announced this week.

Steven Martinez, 27, and Shiraz Khan, 31, operated the large-scale drug distribution organization in the Atlantic County area since 2016, prosecutors said.

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 drug dealers for the organization, prosecutors said.

“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, prosecutors said.

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 30 individuals for numerous crimes, including but not limited to murder, distribution and possession of large quantities of drugs, and money laundering,” Tyner said.

Assets seized during the course of this extensive investigation include: $2.6 million in 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 the organization were known to be armed and dangerous, authorities said.

In addition to narcotics offenses in the indictment, Martinez, along with Shamar Scott, 25, and Deshawn Hose, 23, were responsible for the shooting and killing of Demond Tally, 45, on Feb. 10, 2019, prosecutors said.

Atlantic City Police Department responded to ShotSpotter at 5:13 a.m., on Feb. 10, 2019 in the area of Presbyterian Avenue, in Atlantic City, where Tally was found shot. Tally was transported to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center City Campus Trauma Unit, where he was pronounced dead, prosecutors said.

Martinez, Scott and Hose were 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, authorities said.

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.

Those charged include (hometowns and ages weren't provided):

• Shiraz Khan
• Steven Martinez
• Kevin Moulden
• Robert Strong
• Laura Corcino
• Luis Mercado
• Alexis Owens
• Mehmmad Rehman
• Shamar Scott
• Shaquille Scott
• Isaiah Newsome
• Jahleem Montague-Williams
• Naim Lyons
• Clifford Jones
• Lorin Wright
• Santia Manassanet
• Joshua Cortes
• Selina Acevedo
• Jeanette Campbell
• Howard Dunns
• Anthony Hamilton
• Scott Dorn
• Tashaun Pressley
• Rawkwon McKenney
• Barry Bethea
• Theresa Strong
• Shamal Harvey
• Zachary Michael
• Deshawn Hose

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