UPDATE: Law Enforcement Charges 21 in Large Scale Drug Trafficking Ring in South Jersey

UPDATE: Charges against Brian Falu have been dismissed, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced Friday night. The number of defendants has been reduced from 22 to 21.

ORIGINAL: A total of 21 people who processed and distributed crack, cocaine and heroin on the streets of Camden County were federally charged Wednesday morning, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Teams of federal, state and local law enforcement partners led by the FBI targeted a group of interconnected drug trafficking organizations that operated primarily in the Whitman Park section of Camden. The groups also distributed the drugs throughout the rest of the county, including Sicklerville, Lindenwold and Gloucester City.

A total of 16 members of the groups were arrested on Wednesday.

According to the complaints unsealed Wednesday, there were two drug trafficking organizations involved, including one led by Efraim Rivera, 33, and one involving two groups run by cousins Raymond Roldan, 38, and Jerome “Ant” Ramos, 28, that operated as the Sheridan Street DTO. The distribution of Heroin allegedly went primarily through the Sheridan Street DTO.

Many members of the two groups were family members, and the groups allegedly shared territory.

In addition to the 16 people arrested on Wednesday, two people who were charged were already in custody on state charges, and law enforcement officials are searching for three more. Dewayne Jackson, 45, and Mark Washington, 27, are already in custody.

An investigation led by the FBI used surveillance, confidential informants and cooperating witnesses, controlled drug purchases, record checks and telephone wiretaps to uncover the distribution networks, according to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court.

Over the course of the investigation alone, which took place from Dec. 4, 2013-March 4, 2014, the Rivera DTO trafficked at least 225 ounces and the Sheridan Street DTO trafficked more than 50 ounces of powder cocaine.

During the same period, the Rivera DTO trafficked approximately 24 ounces of crack.

The Sheridan Street DTO sold more than 36 ounces of crack during a similar time frame, ending April 16, 2014, during which the Ramos group also trafficked a minimum 325 grams of heroin.

The Ramos group made about $1,800 a day on heroin alone.

The Rivera group acquired and distributed powder cocaine to the Sheridan Street DTO, which then processed the powder into crack for sale at open-air drug sets it controlled.

Rivera ran his group out of his mother’s home on Liberty Street in Camden. He purchased cocaine from Bryan Falu, 26, of Philadelphia, and sold it to the Sheridan Street DTO and other customers.

Some of the group’s customers then supplied cocaine or crack to Jackson, Dymiere Demby, 23, and Daniel Alston, 33, for two sets in Camden and one in Lindenwold.

The Sheridan Street DTO would then convert the powder cocaine to crack, which would be sold on the open-air drug markets respectively controlled by the Roldan and Ramos groups, or to other drug distributors, who supplied other drug traffickers or sets in and beyond the city of Camden.

The Rivera group would purchase Sheridan Street DTO crack made from the same cocaine it sold to the Roldan group. Rivera’s DTO crack customers included Rivera’s relatives, Angel “Jungo” Garcia, 36, and Angel Velez, 32, who would redistribute the crack.

Luis “Canelo” Diaz, 42, also allegedly supplied cocaine to both groups. Daisy Roldan, 36, and her son, Anthony “Boo Boo” Esprit, 18, allegedly assisted in the day-to-day operations of both groups.

Jimmy Mercado, 26, Giovanny “Gio” Ramos, 20, and Alexsio “Al” Ramos, 25, allegedly “cooked” the crack and processed the powder cocaine, crack cocaine and heroin for sale.

The groups shared set workers, such as Christian Setzer, 33, and Graciano “Rocky” Diaz, 26, who made walk-up sales on Sheridan Street.

The investigation determined members of the groups were armed, Fishman said.

Members are the Rivera group are each charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 280 grams or more of crack and 5 kilograms or more of cocaine.

The members of the Sheridan Street DTO each are charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack; 500 grams or more of cocaine; and100 grams or more of heroin.

Roldan, Diaz and Rivera each are charged with both counts.

Each count carries a minimum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum potential penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine.