Category: GLOUCESTER CITY NEWS

Kevin O\’Donnell “Heavy Kevy”, of Williamstown, formerly of Gloucester City, Rams Alum

Kevin aka “Heavy Kevy”, O\’Donnell, age 59 of Williamstown, New Jersey passed away peacefully on March 12, 2020 surrounded by his family. Beloved husband to Vickie (nee Curtis) O’Donnell, devoted father to daughters Devin and Riane

“Heavy Kevy”

O’Donnell. Cherished son of Thomas J. O’Donnell and the late Kathleen (nee Delahunty) O’Donnell.  Son-in-law of Wilma Curtis and the late Charles T. Curtis.  Kevin was happily married to Vickie O’Donnell for 21 years. There is nothing in the world he valued more than his family.  He is survived by 5 siblings – whom all share the most remarkable bond with each other.  Dr. Deborah Mulgrew (Joe), Kelly Duffy (John), Tricia Cunningham-McNulty (the late Steve McNulty), Michael O’Donnell (Denise), and Thomas E. O’Donnell, Esq. (Ruth). He is also survived by an uncle, aunts, cousins and many nieces and nephews.

Kevin was from Gloucester City, New Jersey. He graduated from Gloucester Catholic High School in 1978 as a proud Ram.   He received a degree in business and finance from West Liberty University. Kevin worked briefly as a stockbroker but most of his career was in the mortgage industry.  He was a valued employee of Greentree Mortgage Company in Gibbsboro, New Jersey.  Kevin worked in the mortgage and banking industry for over 30 years.  He was an active member of the New Jersey Mortgage Bankers Association and was commonly considered a “mortgage savant”.

Kevin was well-known as Heavy Kevy, a champion Wing Bowl competitor and commentator.  He was a proud winner of Wing Bowl 2 and 3 and went on to be inducted into the WIP Wing Bowl Hall of Fame. If you knew anything about Kevin O’Donnell, you knew he had impeccable style. He was always well dressed, and he enjoyed working as a mortgage banker very much.  He was a devout Catholic, and a friend to anyone in need.  As a kind and compassionate man, he sought every opportunity to comfort and support those who needed help in any situation. He enjoyed coaching football, watching sports, hanging out with his girls and binge-watching Dallas, The Sopranos and Live PD.  An avid music lover – Kevin could quote the lyrics to nearly any song between 1970 and 2000.  A Phillies and Eagles fan till the end, he assures us all he will talk to the Big Guy about getting us another Super Bowl win this year.

There will be a viewing from 6:00pm to 9:00pm Monday evening at GARDNER FUNERAL HOME, RUNNEMEDE.  Viewing Tuesday morning 9:00am to 10:00am at GARDNER FUNERAL HOME, RUNNEMEDE. Funeral Mass 11:00 am at St. Mary’s Church Gloucester City, New Jersey.  In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Kevin’s name, payable to the Ram Fund c/o Gloucester Catholic High School, 333 Ridgeway Street, Gloucester City, NJ 08030.

Letitia M. McNally, Registered Nurse with the Philadelphia Nursing Home

Cherry Hill – On March 10, 2020. Age 62. Letitia worked for many years as a Registered Nurse with the Philadelphia Nursing Home in Philadelphia.

Burial will be private at the family’s convenience. There will be no visitation or service.

Condolences and Memories may be shared at

www.mccannhealey.com

under the obituary of Letitia M. McNally. Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries through:

McCANN-HEALEY

FUNERAL HOME

: Gloucester City        Ph: 856-456-1142

Raymond Thomas Ferri, Owner of Ridge Associates; Proudly Served in the Military

On March 11, 2020. Age 92. Of Medford. Formerly of Princeton, Basking Ridge and North Plainfield, NJ. In the loving and devoted care of his wife of 50 years, Ella Mae Ferri (nee Jahn). Cherished father of Maryileen Cumbaa (Charles), Richard Ferri (Terry), Robert Ferri (Melody), Gregory Ferri (Melissa),

Bernadette Dunphy (Phil), Suzanne Meyer (Jay), Donna Ferri (late Paul) and the late Raymond Ferri Jr. Beloved step-father of Lisa Martell (Chris), Leslie Westhead and the late Lauren Jane Chiovarou. Loving grandfather of Richard Ferri, Max Ferri, Brandon Ferri, Dylan Ferri, Alex Cumbaa (Allison), Chelsea Nourse (Daryl), Brian Dunphy, Nicolette Dunphy, Courtney Dunphy, Sean Dunphy, Amanda Meyer, Kathryn Meyer, Lauren Robertson (Martyn), Lindsay Martell, Leah Martell, Danielle Foster (Kenneth), Derek Westhead and Shannon Westhead.

Ray was born and raised in North Plainfield, NJ. He proudly served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from October 31,1944 to May 17, 1945 as a private. Ray proudly served in the U.S. Marine Corps from August 20,1945 to October 14, 1946 as a Private First Class. He proudly served in the U.S. Navy from May 12, 1950 to July 23, 1951 as a Naval Cadet in Pensacola, Florida. After his proud and honorable military service, Ray worked as a technician for Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, NJ. He was the owner of Ridge Associates in Rockaway, NJ.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Ray’s visitation on Monday, March 16, 2020 from 9:30 am to 10:45 am at The Catholic Church of Saint Isaac Jogues (Chapel): 349 Evesboro – Medford Road, Marlton, NJ 08053. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 am in the church. U.S. Marine Corps Military Honors will follow Mass. Cremation private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are requested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: Memorials Processing: 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 – 9959. Please write in memo: Raymond Thomas Ferri.

Condolences and Memories may be shared at

www.mccannhealey.com

under the obituary of Raymond Thomas Ferri. Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries may be made through: McCann-Healey Funeral Home: Gloucester City. Ph: 856-456-1142

Matthew J. Storey, formerly of Bellmawr/Marlton

Matthew J. Storey, 74, of AZ, formerly of Bellmawr and Marlton died March 7, 2020.

He was the former VP of Operations of Pep Boys. He was predeceased by his parents,

Matthew and Elizabeth, and his sister, Anne Corsey.

Matt is survived by his wife of 54 years, Kathleen; two sons, Matthew III and Steven; his sister, Elizabeth (Bud)Henderson; and many nieces and nephews.

Viewing will be Monday 9-10am at St. Joachim/Annunciation Church 601 W. Browning Rd. Bellmawr, NJ where Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10am. Burial New St. Mary Cemetery Bellmawr.

In lieu of flowers, family requests donations to St. Jude hospital at

www.stjude.org

. Arr. Norton Funeral Home Williamstown, NJ. To sign the guestbook visit

www.nfhnj.com

.

How A South Jersey Drug Ring Was Taken Down

William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNews

GLOUCESTER CITY NJ (March 11, 2020)–At the bottom of yesterday\’s article

Major Drug Ring Operating in Gloucester City & Camden City is Busted

two links to the entire complaints that were filed against the suspects in the United States District Court,

Camden City was provided.

click to enlarge

One was labeled

DePoder complaint

the other was named the

Bell complaint

. The investigation into this drug gang began in January 2020 and concluded on March 9, 2020, cumulating with a raid on the DePoder home on Stinson Avenue, Gloucester City along with the arrest of the 17 other suspects.

The DePoder complaint details how the case was built using surveillance by FBI agents who were watching his South Stinson Avenue home, in Gloucester City. Besides surveillance video agents collected cell phone and text message conversations between Rocco DePoder aka \”Rock\” and his suppliers and customers.  Damaging step by step description of the exchanges are outlined from the moment one of DePoder\’s customers places an order on the cell phone or text message to the time the person picks the pills up from DePoder\’s house. FBI agents included descriptions of surveillance videos of DePoder driving the people with legal prescriptions to \”The Camden Pharmacy\” to have the script filled. The address of the pharmacy was not released.

Some of the controlled substances (CS) DePoder and his minions distributed included oxycodone, Adderall also known as \”ads\” or \”addies\”, Xanax, valium, clonazepam.

FROM PAGE 6 -8 of the 16-page indictment

From at least in or about January 2020 to in or about March 2020, Rocco DePoder (\”DEP0DER\”), who is not a doctor or pharmacist, ran a drug trafficking operation primarily out of his home in Gloucester City, New Jersey, aided and assisted by defendants Lolita Paynter (\”PAYNTER\”), Neal Thompson (\”THOMPSON\”), Marcus Rushworth (\”MRUSHWORTH\”), Robert Pratt (\”PRATI\”\’), Wayne Muse (\”MUSE\”), Kenneth Rushworth (\”KRUSHWORTH\”), Alexander Siaca (\”SIACA\”), Holly Clark (\”CLARK\”), and Michael DePoder (\”MDEPODER\”) (collectively, the \”Suppliers\”), who, as specific opportunities arose, agreed to or did assist in supplying DEPODER with quantities of controlled substances (\”CS\”), including oxycodone, Adderall, and Xanax, for DEPODER to distribute to others.

To further this drug trafficking operation, DEPODER and the Suppliers engaged in the· following conduct: ·

On or about January 10, 2020, DEPODER and PAYNTER traveled to a pharmacy to obtain a re-distribution quantity of Oxycodone for DEPODER. Specifically, on this date, PAYTNER telephoned DEPODER and made arrangements to meet DEPODE~ to sell DEPODER 60 OxyContin ER 60 mg tablets.

During ·the call, DEPODER asked, \”Wat, are you getting \’em?\” PAYNTER stated, \’\’Yeah,\” and DEPODER then agreed to pick PAYNTER up in his vehicle. According to law enforcement surveillance, later the same day, PAYNTER went to the pharmacy counter of a pharmacy in Camden, New Jersey (\”Camden Pharmacy-I\”) while DEPODER waited, with KRUSHWORTH, outside in his black GMC Yukon Denali SUV (the \”Denali\”). KRUSHWORTH left the Denali, walked down the street to a taxi cab, and left the area in the taxi.

A short time later, PAYNTER left the pharmacy and got back in DEPODER\’s Denali.

DEPODER then drove PAYNTER to a check-cashing business in Camden. PAYNTER went into the check-cashing business, remained for a short time, returned to the Denali, and then DEPODER drove her back: to Camden Pharmacy-I to obtain oxycodone to provide to DEPODER. According to pharmacy information, on this date, January 10, 2020, Camden Pharmacy-I. filled two prescriptions in the name of a senior citizen who appears to live with PAYNTER (\”Senior-I\”) for 60 OxyContin ER 60 mg ER tablets and 120 oxycodone-:-acetaminophen 10-325 mg pills.

FROM PAGE 9 and 10

On or about January 14, 2020, PRATT supplied a redistribution quantity of Oxycodone to DEPODER. Specifically, on this date, during a telephone conversation, PRATI asked if DEPODER was at DEPODER\’s home and told DEPODER, \”I got 45, you want \’em?\” DEPODER replied, \”Yeah, bring \’em over.\” During the call, DEPODER also told PRATT, \”Hey listen, I got them things too if you want \’em.\” PRATI responded, \”Yeah, I\’ll take them next week when I bring ya the other half.\”

According to pharmacy information, PRATT fills prescriptions, in his own name, on a monthly basis for 90 OxyContin 80 mg pills.

The FBI agent states, \”Based on my training and experience, the content of these calls, and my knowledge of the investigation to date, I believe that PRATT was referring to the two halves of his monthly prescription for 90 OxyContin 80 · mg pills. \”

According to law enforcement surveillance, a short time later, a car, registered to PRATT, arrived and parked in front of DEPODER\’s home, and a white male, believed to be PRATT, left the vehicle and entered DEPODER\’s home.

On or about January 16, 2020, MRUSHWORTH and DEPODER worked out the pricing of pills sold 1:Jy the operation, and DEPODER explained that \”I do this for a living.\”

Specifically, MRUSHWORTH sent a text message to DEPODER\’s telephone telling DEPODER \”we was wrong yesterday\’\’ regarding pill pricing, stating \”we did it as 9×3-27 no it\’s 3×30-90[.]\”

DEPODER and MRUSHWORTH then spoke on the telephone and discussed CS pricing. D~PODER told MRUSHWORTH, \”[i]t ain\’t no 30 times 3[,]\” instead, \”[t]hey\’re three for $10, Marc. There, they\’re footballs [which I believe, based on my training and experience and information from this investigation, is a reference to Xanax, because of the pills\’ oblong shape]. They\’re thr~e for 10. You got nine 10s in, in, in 90. Nine times three is 27. I do this for a living, bro. Thirty is 100. I, I\’ve been doing this, you know, for, for ages.\” DEPODER went on to explain that, \”[y]ou get 30 for 100-. Hey, listen, 15 is $50.\” · MRUSHWORTH told DEPODER, \”[y]eah, he didn\’t say nothing.\”·

As the conversation continued, DEPODER told MRUSHWORTH, \”and the other ones are three for 20.\” MRUSHWORTH responded, \”Daddy\’s selling something for $3 a piece, that\’s where I\’m getting the $3\” – referring to 8:Il another dealer as \”Daddy[.]\” DEPODER replied, \”Oh, oh alright. Yeah, he\’s sells \’emyeah he sells \’em \’cause you got that guy. He was selling them 2.50 apiece. · Two for five.\”

DEPODER asked MRUSHWORTH, \”So why are you selling them so cheap, Marc? He\’s paying three for 10 off of me. He\’s been doing that 9 forever, and that, that\’s what you\’ll pay anywhere you go. Downtown you\’ll pay $5 for one[.]\”· DEPODER added, that the· dealer that MRUSHWORTH referred to \”should be charging three for 10 because that\’s what he pays me …. · Remember, the- the other things are three for 20. Because there\’s six of \’em in them.\” MRUSHWORTH then told DEPODER that \”[h]e handed me $90[,]\” referring MRUSHWORTH\’s customer, so MRUSHWORTH. made a profit.

FROM PAGE 14 AND 15

· On or about February 29, 2020, PRATT solicits a sale by DEPODER of Oxy.codone. Specifically, on this date, PRATI sent a text message to DEPODER\’s telephone asking, \”Yo I\’ll gonna come mid-month if want them ?\” DEPODER replied, \”Ok I want me to hold 20\’s\” – \”20\’s\” is a term frequently used by DEPODER to refer to 2o·mg pill_s of oxycodone.

PRATI replied, \”Just 20.\” q. On or about March 2, 2020, DEPODER and PAYNTER travel to a pharmacy to obtain a re-distribution quantity of Oxycodone for DEPODER. Specifically, on this date, PAYNTER sent a text message to DEPODER stating, \”[g]ood morning Rocco do u have the $200 today might be able to get them today I text u when they open ok[.]\”

DEPODER replied, \”[w]hat about the $50 you owe me lo C this is one talking about every time I lend you money something happens to your checks and then you want me to buy the pills.\”

DEPODER and PAYNTER communicated several more times thereafter and made arrangements to meet. Later the same day, according to law enforcement surveillance, while driving the Denali, DEPODER picked PAYNTER up at her home in Camden and took her to Camden Pharmacy-I. PAYNTER entered Camden Pharmacy-I to obtain oxycodone to provide to DEPODER and then returned to DEPODER\’s waiting Denali.

According to pharmacy information, on March 2, 2020, Camden Pharmacy-I filled one prescription on behalf of Senior-I for 30 OxyContin ER 20 mg extended-release tablets. On or about March 5, 2020, THOMPSON arranged for DEPODER to sell Adderall to Individual-3. Specifically, on this date, during a telephone conversation, THOMPSON asked DEPODER, \”you got addas, Adderall\’s?\”

DEPODER responded, \”Yeah, 30\’s, that\’s all\” stating that · DEPODER only had 30 mg Adderall in stock. THOMPSON replied, \”Alright, and what do you want for them?\” DEPODER said, \”Fifteen[,]\” namely $15 per pill. THOMPSON advised, \”[a]lright, I\’m a tell her.\”

Later that evening, THOMPSON spoke to DEPODER again on the telephone, and the interception began with THOMPSON speaking to someone in the background, stating, \”[y]eah, this is different. ones, he only got 30\’s.\”

THOMPSON then spoke to DEPODER and said,_ \”[s]he wanna come out your way bro.\” THOMPSON then told DEPODER, \”[t]he lady with the Range Rover, you know the one buy the addies off you?\”

THOMPSON then corrected himself as to the make of the customer\’s car, stating that it was \”a Land Rover now.\”·

DEPODER gave THOMPSON the address of DEPODER\’s home and asked.\”how many she wants.\” THOMPSON told DEPODER \”7[.]\” Thus, THOMPSON arrang~d f~r DEPODER to sell an individual (\”Individual-3\”) 7 30 mg. Adderall pills.

Shortly thereafter, Individual-3 called DEPODER and told DEPODER, \”I\’m outside.\”

Law 14 enforcement surveillance observed a Land Rover park on the street outside DEPODER\’s home in Gloucester City.

DEPODER walked out of his home, · approached the Land Rover, appeared to conduct a hand-to-hand transaction with the driver of the Land Rover, and returned to his home. Later that evening, Individual-3 sent DEPODER a text message stating, \”This is [Individual-3) … please don\’t forget me. I buy 40-60ml adds a month or the 15 mg off ever see them I will buy them.\” Thus, Individual-~ told DEPODER that she wanted to buy additional Adderall pills from him in the future.

FROM PAGE 15 AND 16

On or about February 23, 2020, DEPODER agreed to sell Oxycodone to a customer.

Specifically, on this date, DEPODER spoke on the telephone with a buyer (\”Buyer-2\”) who asked if DEPODER had \”green monsters\” (80 mg oxycodone pills) and \”one below it\” (60 mg oxycodone pills).

DEPODER told ~uyer-2, \”yeah, yeah[,]\” namely, he had the pills in stock, and Buyer-2 replied that \”I\’ll be [at DEPODER\’s home in Gloucester City] in like 10 mins[.]\” DEPODER then asked Buyer-2, \”[w]hatcha need?\” Buyer -2 stated, \”U]ust one and one 60[,]\” referring to 1 80 mg oxycodone pill and one 60 mg oxycodone pill.

Later the same day, subsequent communications and surveillance indicate that DEPODER and Buyer-2 met at DEPODER\’s home in Gloucester City. · 15 iii. On or about March 3, 2020, DEPODER\’agreed to sell Oxycodone to a customer.

Specifically, on this date, during·a telephone call, Buyer-2 told DEPODER that \”I (Buyer-2) need two of them green pills. and one red one\'[.]\” DEPODER responded, \”[a]lright[.]\” Buyer-2 told DEPODER that Buyer-2 would \”be like fifteen, twenty minutes\” and DEPODER replied, \”I\’ll be here.

Later the same day, subsequent communications and surveillance indicate that DEPODER and Buyer-2 met at DEPODER\’s home in Gloucester City.

The FBI agent in charge of the investigation was Stuart Sobin, a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation assigned to the Philadelphia Division, Cherry Hill Resident Agency, of the department. He has been an FBI Special Agent since 2012. \”In my capacity as a Special Agent, I have received extensive formal investigative training at the FBI\’s training academy in Quantico, Virginia and elsewhere. I have also received the basic drug and gang training, as well as advanced training that involved drugs and gangs,\” he stated in the complaint.

Attachment(s):

Download depoder.complaint.pdf

Download bell.complaint.pdf

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BREAKING NEWS

published

Gloucestercitynews.net

| March 11, 2020

Lucille Anne DeBlasi of Bellmawr, 76

Bellmawr – Surrounded by her loving family, at home, on March 9, 2020, at the age of 76. (nee Pena).

Loving and devoted wife of 56 years to John DeBlasi. Loving mother of Denise R. Tortorelli (Dominick), John R. DeBlasi (Michael), Darren A. DeBlasi and Dean R. DeBlasi (Monica). Cherished grandmother of Alexandra Tortorelli. Predeceased by her parents, Manuel and Philomena Pena and her brother, Ronald Pena.

Born in the Bronx, NY, Lucille was a graduate of Camden Catholic High School class of 1961. A resident of Bellmawr, NJ since 1965, Lucille worked many years as a property manager for Galman Group in Philadelphia and as a travel agent for American Tourist Travel in Turnersville. In her younger years, she was a professional singer who often entertained the military, and continued her love of music throughout her life. Lucille was a former member of the Haddonfield Garden Club. She was an avid gardener and traveler, as well as a dog lover. She was especially fond of her Yorkies.

Relatives and friends are invited to her viewing on Saturday, March 14th, from 9 AM to 12 Noon at the HEALEY FUNERAL HOME: 9 White Horse Pike, Haddon Heights. Mass of Christian Burial 12:30 PM at Saint Rose of Lima Church: 4th Ave. at Kings Highway, Haddon Heights. Interment will follow in St. Joseph\’s Cemetery, Chews Landing.

In lieu of Flowers, donations are requested to National Centre for Padre Pio, PO Box 206, Barto, PA 19504 or to

Alzheimer\’s Association

, PO Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011. Please write in memo: In memory of Lucille Anne DeBlasi.

Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries through: McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME, Gloucester City

www.mccannhealey.com

Ph:856-456-1142.

Christopher E. Foyle, of Bellmawr, 61

Christopher E. Foyle, on March 9, 2020, of Bellmawr. Age 61.

Beloved son of the late James and Cecilia. Dear brother of Patricia, Frank, Mary Ellen, John and the late James, Michael and Joseph. Predeceased by his nephew Michael, and survived by 11 nieces, 2 nephews and many great nieces and great nephews.

Chris was an avid Philly sports fan, especially the Flyers. He enjoyed studying history, doing crosswords, reading the newspaper and the Sunday comics.

Chris also loved spending time with his friends and family and liked being known best as “Uncle Chris”.

There will be a visitation from 11:30am to 1pm Sunday, March 22, 2020, at GARDNER FUNERAL HOME, RUNNEMEDE.

Memorial Service 1pm at the funeral home.

Interment private.

Gloucester City Staying on Top of the Corona Virus Crisis

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (March 11, 2020)–Gloucester City Mayor Daniel Spencer has released the following statement regarding the City\’s response to the Corona Virus crisis.

City of Gloucester officials have been in constant contact with representatives of the Camden County Health Department and Office of Emergency Management on the ever-widening Corona Virus crisis.

The City and its various departments have been meeting on this issue and are doing everything in their power to help educate the citizens of Gloucester City and to do their part in containing this virus.

There are several simple steps to protect yourself regarding the Corona Virus

Clean your hands often with soap and water

Avoid close contact

Stay home if your sick

Cover coughs and sneezes

Wear a face mask if you are sick

Clean and Disinfect at least twice a day for high traffic areas such as phones, doorknobs, light switches

Seek Medical advice if symptomatic

Additional information can be viewed on the State of New Jersey website at state.nj.us and the Centers for Disease Control website at cdc.gov

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THE INSANE WEEK WE HAD EBOLA

Pastor Joe Marlin

Pastor of The Epiphany Church

On the anti-virtue of fear.

We came home from Rwanda for a few months in 2014 as missionaries for a time to reconnect with family and be ‘invisible’ in our home country, but that was not in the cards for us!

If you google

‘Maple Shade Ebola’

you will find 128,000 results. You will also see articles about it from

local news stations like Actions News

all the way to international

news agencies

like the BBC, CNN, and France 24. Yes, in the middle of that “ebola mania’ it was

our family

that came under the international spotlight, though our identities were never revealed. Not only did our family anonymously become the “Ebola scare of the week” on the news, our case affected international politics as an ebola free Rwanda, decided to impose a visa fee on American visitors for the first time and to check American’s temperature three times a day for 21 days, since ‘technically’ America had cases of Ebola. That was an interesting year. In America and then back in Africa, there wasn’t a day we did not hear about it, even deep in the village where there was no TV people knew about the Rwandans whose kids were not allowed to go to school in New Jersey.

The interviews shown on TV were not flattering of South Jersey, but it was the comment sections, and the overheard conversations at the WAWA and other local spots that was straight up as racist, and ignorant as you can imagine, even getting to the point where people threaten this “Rwandan family” with violence if they tried coming into the school.

We could have tapped out in a bunch of ways, but we didn’t. There were generous offers for our kids to go to a private school. There was also the idea that it could be leaked that this ‘Rwandan family’ are actually missionaries, and that my wife and I where married right in that town. Should our race and the reason we were in Rwanda matter?

You know the answer

.

Invisibility isn’t even an option for many minorities in majority spaces.

FEAR is a terrible thing, and we are seeing it raise it’s ugly head now with this coronavirus. I was reminded of this when When it comes to our kids, our fears go into hyperdrive. But we must resist fear.

This was a post recently by a friend and fellow pastor. 30 years in America, what is the excuse for this?

At Epiphany, we like to talk about the three chief virtues of a Christian, which are Faith, Hope, and Love. Sadly in the culture and in the Church, we have distorted these virtues into ‘anti-virtues.’ Instead of the three virtues, we find from the Apostle Paul in 1st Corinthians 13, we feed on fear, hate, and lust like a chained up pitbull in a junkyard .

I am going to write about these anti-virtues in the weeks to come but today I just want to encourage to ask yourself what good comes out of stoking fear? Yet that is what sells, that is what gets attention, that is what seems to motivate so many religious and so many irreligious people. True Faith is not your grandma smacking you with a Bible till you ‘fall in line’, True Faith is full of

curiosity

and

courage

. The soil where real genuine faith grows that isn’t fake is a soil where you can ask questions, where you are allowed to have doubts, and where those doubts are addressed thoughtfully and lovingly. Authentic faith also blossoms into courage, it isn’t cursing at the darkness, at the big horrible word. True faith doesn’t care about, need or even want whatever ‘cultural power’ the Church had in the past because it’s not about comfort or power. True faith is at peace because it’s hope is not in being in the majority, but being in the truth.

So I encourage you to consider what news you listen to, consider how much you listen to your friends, and ask yourself, do they stoke the fires of fear, hate, and lust or do they stoke the virtues of Faith, Hope, and Love.. If we are honest with ourselves, especially as we look at the Church, so much of what we see doesn’t make us more like Christ, but less.

Let’s wash our hands, get our facts right, and love our neighbor, wherever they are from, and whatever they look like.

POST SCRIPT:Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) IS WAY MORE CONTAGIOUS THAN EBOLA (AND WAY LESS FATAL), THE PRINCIPLE OF THIS BLOG ARE THE SAME, LET’S REJECT FEAR AND HATE. HOWEVER IT IS WISE TO BE PREPARED AS POSSIBLE. SO PAY ATTENTION TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES, BUT TAKE SOME OF THE THINGS YOUR FRIENDS SAY WITH A GRAIN OF SALT.

Written by Pastor Joe Marlin, pastor of The Epiphany Church, Monmouth and Sussex Streets, Gloucester City

Major Drug Ring Operating in Gloucester City & Camden City is Busted; 18 Arrested

Residents said they were scared to death.

\”I looked out my door and all I could see were flashing red lights and vehicles on South Stinson Avenue,\” said one resident.

\”It was pitch dark.\”

Another person said, \”I saw men dressed in SWAT gear carrying rifles.\”

William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNews

Related:

How A South Jersey Drug Ring Was Taken Down

CAMDEN CITY, N.J. – The United States Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today that there were 18 people arrested, (two remain at-large) by the FBI that were involved in two drug trafficking operations operating out of Gloucester City and Camden City.

FBI agents and SWAT on South Stinson Avenue, Gloucester City early morning March 10, 2020 (photo courtesy of resident)

Authorities identified the ring leaders as Rocco DePoder for the Gloucester City operation and Erick Bell and Alfred Kee Jr. for the Camden City operation.

The other suppliers, resellers and associates charged in the complaints used the following means to facilitate the pill trafficking: Bell, Kee and DePoder would solicit the suppliers, including certain defendants named in the complaints, and others, primarily over the telephone, to supply them with quantities of oxycodone, Adderall and Xanax for DePoder, and oxycodone for Bell and Kee.

Allegedly after receiving substantial quantities of pills at Bell’s home in Camden, DePoder’s home in Gloucester City, and other locations in southern New Jersey (including Lindenwold and Woodbury), Bell and DePoder would take orders for pills over the telephone from others. Bell, Kee, and DePoder would provide purchasers with these pills. The defendants employed coded language and used multiple phones to conceal their activities.

Suspects Rocco and Michael DePoder are the father and brother of Gloucester City Detective Carl Depoder.

City Police Chief Brian Morrell said his department was not involved in the investigation for obvious reasons.

Rocco DePoder has lived in the unit block of South Stinson Avenue for decades. He is a building contractor who owned several rental properties in Gloucester City. Early this morning, around 5 AM residents were awakened by an FBI agent shouting over a bullhorn, \”This is the FBI come out without any weapons with your hands in the air.\”

Residents said they were scared to death.

\”I looked out my door and all I could see were flashing red lights and vehicles on South Stinson Avenue,\” said one resident.

\”It was pitch dark.\”

Another person said, \”I saw men dressed in SWAT gear carrying rifles. I didn\’t know what was happening. Once I saw the guns I got back to my house, stayed away from the windows and hid in my bedroom.\”

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: The charges and arrests are the results of a wiretap investigation led by the FBI into drug distribution operations that dealt in, among other drugs, high-dose, 60- and 80-mg oxycodone pills.

The defendants were charged with conspiring to possess and distribute drugs in two complaints unsealed today. Sixteen of the defendants were arrested today and are scheduled to appear this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judges Joel Schneider and Karen M. Williams in Camden federal court. Two defendants remain at large.

The conspiracies charged in the complaints carry a maximum prison term of 20 years and a maximum fine of $1 million.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of FBI Philadelphia Division, South Jersey Resident Agency, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Tara McMahon; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Scott J. Lampert; the Camden County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Gilbert L. Wilson; New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, under the direction of Director Jared M. Maples; the Camden County Police Department, under the direction of Chief Joseph Wysocki; and the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Bethanne M. Dinkins, with the investigation.

He also thanked the FBI Newark Division, New Jersey State Police, Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for their assistance.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gabriel J. Vidoni of the Office’s Camden branch, and Sara F. Merin and Mark J. McCarren of the Newark Office.

The charges and allegations contained in the complaints are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Suspect              Age           Residence

Erik Bell aka E.,

49

Camden City

Alfred Kee Jr.

51

Blackwood

Stephen Walker

41

Camden City

Wm. Summers   67

Camden City

Derrick Lewis

47

Camden City

Rocco DePoder

67

Gloucester City

Maurice William

39

Mt. Ephraim

Anwar Abuddah

31                 Pennsauken

Antwan Tucker

50                 Woodbury

Lolita Paynter      55                 Camden City

Neal Thompson   56                    Camden City

Marcus Rushworth

46               Gloucester City

Robert Pratt          56                Blackwood

Wayne Muse         73                 Lindenwold

Kenneth Rushworth 59              Gloucester City

Alexander Siaca

54                  Camden City

Holly Clark         38                   West Deptford

Michael DePoder 40                  Gloucester City

Related:

How A South Jersey Drug Ring Was Taken Down

Attachment(s):

Download depoder.complaint.pdf

Download bell.complaint.pdf

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Gloucestercitynews.net

| March 10, 2020