Carlos Perez, of Pennsauken, Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

CAMDEN CITY, N.J. – A member of a Camden drug-trafficking organization pleaded guilty today to distributing significant amounts of illegal drugs in Camden, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Gloucestercitynews.net graphic

Carlos Perez, 46, of Pennsauken, New Jersey, admitted his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy that was based on the 500 block of Pine Street in Camden; he pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb in Camden federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, crack cocaine, fentanyl and powder cocaine.

Twelve other members of the drug-trafficking conspiracy – Ronnie Lopez, Nelson Salcedo, Paul Salcedo, Waldemar Garcia, William Carrillo, Elisa Rivera, Ramon Velez, Naeem Sadler, Jasmin Velez, Jameel Byng, Kaliel Johnson, and David Velez – previously have pleaded guilty in this case. The charges against six other defendants remain pending.

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

Members of the drug-trafficking organization sold heroin, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, and fentanyl – in and around Camden. An investigation led by the FBI used surveillance tactics, confidential informants, consensual recordings, over 40 controlled drug purchases, record checks, a GPS vehicle tracker, and several court-authorized wiretaps to uncover the operations of the Camden drug-trafficking organization.

The count to which Perez pleaded guilty carries a mandatory penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of a life in prison, and a $10 million fine. His sentencing is scheduled for May 4, 2020.

U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI’s South Jersey Violent Offender and Gang Task Force, South Jersey Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael T. Harpster in Philadelphia; the Camden County Police Department, under the direction of Chief Joseph Wysocki; the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer; the Camden County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Gilbert L. Wilson; the Cherry Hill Police Department, under the direction of Chief William P. Monaghan; and the N.J. State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty pleas. He also thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Department of Homeland Security for their assistance.

This case is being conducted under the auspices of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara A. Aliabadi and Patrick C. Askin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.

For the six defendants whose charges remain pending, the charges and allegations are merely accusations, and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Defense counsel: Teri Lodge Esq., Marlton, New Jersey

Camden County Republicans Hope Pelosi Can Clear Up Questions Surrounding Barclay

HADDON HEIGHTS – Upon learning Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi is coming to Camden County to help Congressman Donald Norcross kick off his re-election campaign next month Camden County Republican Chairman Rich Ambrosino said, “It was nice of the Speaker to provide us with advance notice of her visit to Camden County. It gives us time to plan a warm welcome. I hope she likes it.”

“It is my sincere hope that while Congresswoman Pelosi is here she can help us clear some things up,” Rich Ambrosino said. “For example, we’ve been dealing with the situation around former Assemblyman Arthur Barclay since the summer of 2018. Last September, I recalled that Congressman Norcross said, ‘This type of behavior is unacceptable under any circumstances,’ and asked that the Congressman join me in calling for the Camden County machine Democrats to stop protecting Arthur Barclay and explain how Barclay was transferred to a new job after resigning from the Assembly for ‘health reasons.’ Norcross, like every other Democrat in the state, has remained silent on that issue.”

Ambrosino added, “I’m sure, Pelosi, such a huge #MeToo advocate, might want to know how a man who admitted to punching his girlfriend in the face still has a county job. She might also ask why Norcross, with the influence he has as a member of Congress, has done nothing to get answers as to how someone he said displayed unacceptable behavior ‘under any circumstances’ was transferred to a new job in County government.”

“After getting answers to the Barclay situation maybe Congresswoman Pelosi can find out where the ‘thousands of jobs’ are Norcross

promised

would be created when he bragged about leading ‘the charge on getting the Economic Opportunity Act passed into law.’” Ambrosino said, “The Congresswoman can simply write her answers on a note and drop it out the car window to me when she arrives for her event with Norcross. I’ll be out there with many other Republicans to welcome her to Camden County. I’ll be the guy holding a Trump sign!”

James W. Dunlap of Philadelphia, Charged with Attempted Murder Inside a Woodlynne Home

Camden City, N.J. — 52-year-old James W. Dunlap of Philadelphia, was arrested Jan. 28 on charges of attempted murder, burglary, aggravated assault, and related weapons offenses stemming from a Jan.

23 stabbing inside a Woodlynne home, according to Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer and Woodlynne Public Safety Director Ed Figueroa.

On Thursday, Jan. 23, a 64-year-old man was taken to Cooper Medical Hospital with multiple stab wounds to the upper body shortly before 11 p.m., according to detectives. A witness told investigators Dunlap forcefully entered a Woodlynne home before allegedly stabbing the victim and assaulting another individual inside the home.

Dunlap was apprehended by members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force – Camden Division in Logan Township. He was remanded to the Camden County Jail pending a pretrial detention hearing.

All persons charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

New Jersey American Water Invested More Than $375 Million Statewide in 2019

CAMDEN CITY, N.J. (January 29, 2020)

–

New Jersey American Water

recently announced its end-of-year investment total and system improvements for 2019. More than $375 million total was invested on system upgrades and various improvement projects statewide throughout the year.

“At New Jersey American Water, our goal is to provide safe, reliable water service to all of our customers,” said Cheryl Norton, president of New Jersey American Water. “From source to tap, our team of professionals continuously monitor and work hard to maintain our facilities to ensure they operate efficiently, meet all regulatory standards and deliver the best quality water. Investment now helps sustain our current operations while ensuring resiliency for the future – all to benefit our customers.”

Each year, New Jersey American Water invests millions of dollars in its infrastructure, which includes both maintenance and upgrades to its treatment and distribution (pipeline). This includes regular maintenance and upgrades to treatment plants, tanks, pump stations, miles of pipe, water mains, fire hydrants and metering equipment.

For 2019, system improvement highlights include:

Mains

: In 2019, New Jersey American Water invested $114 million in more than 100 miles of main to replace and rehabilitate aging pipe and install new main in order to serve additional areas. Additionally, New Jersey American Water invested more than $4.8 million in leak detection equipment in 2019 to further enhance its teams’ ability to respond to leaks and breaks.

Source Water, Treatment and Other Production System Improvements

: New Jersey American Water invested more than $51.2 million for improvements to its water treatment facilities across the state in 2019. Those facilities and projects include:

Raritan Millstone Water Treatment Plant – emergency generator and low-lift improvements

Swimming River Water Treatment Plant – second clearwell

South Linwood Station – treatment improvements

Delran Regional Water Treatment Plant – roof replacement

Beckett Station – treatment upgrades

Various facilities around the state – automation and control system upgrades.

Fire Hydrants

: In 2019, New Jersey American Water replaced 948 fire hydrants and 1,098 valves across the state, an approximately $22.4 million investment.

Service Lines

: In 2019, New Jersey American Water replaced 12,007 service lines, an investment totaling approximately $41.3 million.

Tanks/Storage

: In 2019, New Jersey American Water rehabilitated six water tanks and conducted detailed inspections on 15 tanks, an investment totaling approximately $4.9 million.

Visit

www.newjerseyamwater.com

to learn more about New Jersey American Water’s multimillion dollar program to accelerate the renewal of water infrastructure that is reaching the end of its useful life in more than 100 communities across the state and to use the infrastructure upgrade map located under Water Quality,

System Updates

About New Jersey American Water

New Jersey American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 2.7 million people. For more information, visit

www.newjerseyamwater.com

and follow New Jersey American Water on

Twitter

and

Facebook

About American Water

With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 7,100 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to more than 14 million people in 46 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to make sure we keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit

amwater.com

and follow American Water on

Twitter

Facebook

and

Open House at Camden County Technical Schools

All are welcome to attend Open House at Camden County Technical Schools (CCTS) on Wednesday,

February 5th

from

6 PM to 9 PM

. Inclement weather date is February 6th. The two high schools that comprise CCTS provide career training programs, academic

courses, and extracurricular activities to students in grades nine through twelve. Parents and their seventh, eighth, and ninth grade children are invited to attend an informational meeting at

7 PM

at either campus to learn more about CCTS as a high school option. Participants are asked to arrive by

6:30 PM

to register. To learn more, visit our website at

ccts.org

, call the Admissions Office at 856-767-7000, Ext. 5424, or email

admissions@ccts.net

Books, Balls, & Blocks: Building Hearts and Minds

CAMDEN CITY, NJ –Sponsored by the Camden County Department of Children’s Services and in collaboration with the Southern NJ

Perinatal Cooperative and the Early Learning Network, Building Hearts and Minds is a free, fun event to track your child’s developmental milestones! Learn about how your child talks, plays, learns, and interacts with their world.

Event will take place on

February 8th

from

10 AM

1PM

at the Early Learning Network at Center For Family Services in Camden City.

To register, contact the Camden County Department of Children’s Services at (856) 583-0226, email

Amy.Schmidt@camdencounty.com

or RSVP

online here

Rutgers-Camden Men Fall at Division I Princeton

PRINCETON, N.J. (Jan. 26, 2020) – As first-year Head Coach

Stuart Pradia

strives to build the Rutgers University-Camden men’s basketball program, one of the experiences he is introducing to his student-athletes is the chance to play a higher level of competition against a Division I team.

The Scarlet Raptors had that experience here Sunday as they lost to Princeton University, 87-41.

The game marked the first time the Scarlet Raptors had played a Division I team since Nov. 16, 2011, when they lost their season opener, 87-53, at Elon University. The last time Rutgers-Camden played a team from a higher division came against a Division II club on November 16, 2013 during a 69-50 season-opening loss at Millersville University.

Princeton improved to 7-8 with its fourth straight win, while Rutgers-Camden fell to 6-12.

After Princeton scored the game’s first point on a foul shot by freshman forward Tosan Evbuomwan, the Scarlet Raptors took a 2-1 lead on a layup by senior center

Isaac Destin.

Junior guard Ryan Schwieger countered with a layup for the Tigers, but junior guard

Arian Azemi

had a layup to put the Scarlet Raptors back on top, 4-3.

Princeton took the lead for good, 6-4, when sophomore guard Ethan Wright hit a three-pointer 1:29 into the contest and senior center Richmond Aririguzoh followed with a layup. The closest Rutgers-Camden came after that was 8-6 on a jumper by Azemi.

After the Scarlet Raptors made it a 13-8 game, Princeton scored the next 20 points to take command with a 33-8 lead. Azemi broke the Tigers’ run with a foul shot midway through the first half.

Princeton added a nine-point run later in the half on its way to a 53-16 halftime lead. Azemi had seven points and Destin added six to account for 13 of the Raptors’ first-half points. Princeton, meanwhile, had 11 players in the scoring column by halftime, led by Wright (nine points) and junior forward Elijah Barnes (eight).

Both Destin and Azemi finished with 16 points for Rutgers-Camden, while adding three steals apiece. Destin had a team-high six rebounds and Azemi had five boards and a game-high four assists.

Junior forward

Ian McCarthy

had a game-high eight steals, doubling his previous career high of four, set against Ramapo College on Feb. 8, 2018.

Destin’s 16 points allowed him to tie James Washington (1995-98) for 11th place on the program’s all-time list at 1,141. If he gets at least 11 points in his next game, he would move into eighth place past Dane Nicholson (1,144), Jim Kiefer (1,146) and Pete Verling (1,151).

Princeton placed 14 players in the scoring column, led by 20 points from freshman forward Keeshawn Kellman. Barnes added 10 points, while freshman guard Konrad Kiszka collected a game-high seven rebounds. Princeton held a 44-17 advantage off the boards.

The Tigers shot 34-for-55 (61.8 percent) from the floor, including 8-for-20 (40.0) from three-point range. Rutgers-Camden shot 18-for-52 from the floor (34.6) and didn’t hit a trey in 13 attempts.

Rutgers-Camden returns to Division III and New Jersey Athletic Conference play on Wednesday with a 6 p.m. game at Stockton University.

The Cleanup of Gloucester City\’s Superfund Sites Continues; $384 Million Spent So Far

William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNews

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (January 26, 2020)–The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is continuing the cleanup of contaminants in Gloucester City that came from the defunct Welsbach Factory located at King and Essex Streets and the Delaware River. Presently the property is the home of the Gloucester Marine Terminal/Holt property.

The same area was also the home of Armstrong Cork for many years.

The EPA is preparing the plans to remove contaminants from the Gloucester Marine Terminal/Holt property at King And Essex Streets (gloucestercitynews.net photo)

The Welsbach factory manufactured gas mantles in Gloucester City from the 1890s to the 1940s. Using state-of-the-art technology at the time, the wicks for the gas lamps were dipped into radioactive thorium so they would “glow in the dark.”

The company, not knowing the thorium was radioactive, discarded the wicks throughout Gloucester City. A similar manufacturing company, General Gas Mantle, located in Camden City did the same with the waste coming from their plant.

Since 1999 the EPA has been removing the thorium at various sites such as the baseball and football fields on Johnson Blvd. The same cleanup process has been ongoing in Camden.

In 1980, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) sponsored a flyover radiological survey in Gloucester City and Camden City. Based on the survey, the EPA investigated more than 1,000 properties surrounding the two former gas mantle facilities – Welsbach in Gloucester City and General Gas Mantle (GGM) in Camden City.

As for the upcoming work at the Gloucester Marine Terminal, a source told us that an above ground tank 42 feet in diameter and 16 foot tall was going to be erected at the site.

Elias Rodríguez,

Public Information Officer, Region 2, New York, was asked to explain the purpose of such a large structure.

A similar tank like this one will be erected on Gloucester Marine Terminal/Holt property (Gloucestercitynews.net files)

\”

You are likely referring to the tank for the groundwater treatment system. Groundwater treatment will be conducted using physical and chemical treatment processes. The final design of the groundwater treatment facility including the treatment equipment/tanks has not been completed. However, one of the tanks to be designed/constructed is expected to be an open tank and would be used as an emergency back-up storage tank. So, it would not regularly contain impacted groundwater. In addition, the contaminants of concern are not ones where movement from the water to air is a concern,\” said Rodriquez.

\”

Construction of a groundwater treatment facility has been initiated and is part of existing work addressing excavation of radiologically contaminated soil at the port facility. Water encountered during the soil excavations will require treatment/disposal and that necessitates the design/construction of the groundwater treatment facility,\” he said.

\”

The Holt Cargo/Gloucester Marine Terminal parking lot is the location of the groundwater treatment facility. The port is the location of the former Welsbach facility. The former Welsbach facility operated from the turn of the century to roughly the 1940s and a waste by-product from their manufacture of gas lanterns contained low levels of radioactive material that was used as fill material in areas of Gloucester City and Camden City. One of the remaining buildings on-site at the port facility is the Armstrong Building.\”

Rodriquez said

the Welsbach Company (Gloucester City) and GGM (Camden City) produced gas mantles from the late 1890s to 1941. The companies used radioactive elements in the production of the mantles to help them glow brighter when heated. In the early 1990s, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection found elevated levels of radiation at the site and in many residential areas. EPA added the site to the Superfund National Priorities List in June 1996.

Cleanup activities completed to date include:

¨ Excavation/disposal of contaminated soil and waste materials from numerous properties in Gloucester City and Camden;

¨ The demolition/off-site disposal of the former GGM building in Camden;

¨ Cleanup of radiologically contaminated building surfaces in the Armstrong Building, the last standing building associated with the former Welsbach Company at the port in Gloucester City;

¨ Cleanup/restoration of the William Flynn Veterans Complex, which included rebuilding three baseball fields, a football practice field, and a parking area; and

¨ Cleanup/restoration of the Nicholson Road Sports Complex, which included restoration of three softball fields, a Little League baseball field, bathroom facilities, and a concession stand. Current cleanup activities include:

¨ Excavation/disposal of radiologically contaminated soil at fifteen locations at the port facility; and

¨ Relocation of utilities (e.g. electrical, gas, telecommunication) within the port facility to facilitate subsequent large excavation of radiologically contaminated soil.

The prime contractor for the groundwater treatment facility is APTIM Corp.

APTIM specializes in engineering, program management, environmental services, disaster recovery, complex facility maintenance, and construction services. They have offices in Philadelphia and New York City and throughout the United States and Canada.

https://www.aptim.com

The value of the groundwater treatment facility project being built at the marine terminal is estimated to be $7 million Rodriquez said.

According to Rodriquez a

n estimated $384 million has been spent for investigations and clean-up and that includes work in Camden and Gloucester City.

When asked how much longer will it take to finish the projects in Camden and Gloucester Cities Rodriquez said, \”The current projection for the complete cleanup of these two communities is 10 years.\”

From the EPA\’s

WELSBACH & GENERAL GAS MANTLE Superfund website;

To address long-term site risks, EPA has investigated close to 950 properties in Camden and Gloucester City and has completed the cleanup on 163 of the nearly 175 properties identified as contaminated. To date, EPA has excavated and disposed of more than 350,000 tons of radiologically contaminated soils and waste materials. These cleanups included removing about 105,000 tons of contaminated soil from Gloucester City Swim Club and adjacent residential properties; about 23,000 tons from the site of a Gloucester City middle school; 35,000 tons from residential properties along Highland Avenue and Klemm Boulevard in Gloucester City; more than 55,000 tons from the General Gas Mantle area in Camden, more than 16,000 tons from residential properties and wetlands areas along Temple Avenue in Gloucester City, and about 130,000 tons from the recreational properties along Johnson Boulevard in Gloucester City.

(See More)

Video (s): $25 Million Spent on EPA Cleanup of Johnson Blvd. Sports Complex

www.gloucestercitynews.net › clearysnotebook › 2009/08 › epa-to-ho…

GLOUCESTER CITY: EPA to Hold Meeting On Welsbach …

Aug 18, 2009 –

Road

. To better understand how the community uses these ball

fields

, EPA … EPA plans to begin the

cleanup

at the

Gloucester City

Land Preserve by early fall 2009. … be working on, plug in

Johnson

Boulevard,

Gloucester City

, NJ 08030. … and Common Council of

Gloucester City

(

gloucestercitynews

net

) …

source of graphics EPA

North Carolina Man Charged for Bringing Weapons, Including Machine Gun, into Federal Facility

CAMDEN CITY, N.J. – A North Carolina man was arrested today on charges that he brought a loaded handgun and machine gun into a federal facility, and illegally transported the machine gun into New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Dustin Peters, 25, a former Marine, was arrested in Cape May County, New Jersey, and is charged by complaint with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in a federal facility and one count of unlawful interstate transport of a machine gun. Peters is scheduled to have an initial appearance on Jan. 21, 2020, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joel Schneider in Camden federal court.

According to documents filed in this case:

On Jan. 9, 2020, Peters attempted to enter the U.S. Coast Guard Training Center Cape May. During a routine security search of his vehicle, Coast Guard personnel recovered a modified, fully automatic AK-47 rifle, a loaded 9mm Century Arms handgun, multiple large capacity magazines, ammunition, a ballistic vest, gas mask and canister, three boxes of ammunition, a nylon chest rig, and other items. Peters told law enforcement agents that he purchased the AK-47 in Virginia, but modified it on his own to become fully automatic.

The counts of possession of a firearm on a federal facility carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. The unlawful interstate transport of a machine gun carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, Atlantic City Resident Agency’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark; members of the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, under the direction of Resident Agent in Charge Rodney E. Newcomer; the Cape May Police Department under the direction of Chief Anthony G. Marino Jr.; and the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland, with the investigation leading to today’s charges.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alisa Shver of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.

This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice\’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department\’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see

http://www.justice.gov/projectguardian

The charges and allegations in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

400 Teddy Bears Donated for Children in Traumatic Events

Members of the Brothers in Blue Motorcycle Club dropped off 400 donated Teddy Bears to the Camden County Police Departments as part of the club’s nationwide “Freddie’s Teddies” program. The bears are reserved for police interactions with children during traumatic events and are intended to provide comfort in times of stress.

“We are extremely grateful to the Brothers in Blue for their compassion and generosity,” said Chief Joseph Wysocki. “These bears will be kept in police vehicles and always on hand to comfort a child. We are working to ensure that even during traumatic incidents, interactions with our officers are seen are meaningful and positive.”

“Freddie’s Teddies” is a stuffed animal drive conducted in the memory of Jennifer L. \”Freddie\” Meadows, a teddy bear lover who was killed in an unsolved hit-and-run in 2017. To date, Brothers in Blue MC has collected over 16,000 stuffed animals, most of which are donated to police, fire, and rescue departments to comfort children during traumatic situations.

ee Photos