2017 News Release

25 Charged in Takedown of Trenton Drug Trafficking Ring

State Police seize guns and over $300,000 worth of drugs in “Operation Maple Empire”

Trenton, N.J. - The New Jersey State Police have arrested 25 suspects of an alleged drug trafficking ring and seized guns, drugs, and cash as result of a cooperative investigation dubbed, “Operation Maple Empire.”

As a result of a 10-month investigation led by the New Jersey State Police Gangs and Organized Crime Central Unit, detectives were able to identify 25 individuals operating a drug trafficking ring in the area of Maple Avenue in Trenton City. 

On Monday, May 15, and Tuesday, May 16, detectives from the New Jersey State Police Gangs and Organized Crime Central Unit, Trenton Police Department, FBI, Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, ATF, U.S. Marshal’s NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force, Ewing Police Department, Hamilton Police Department, and the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office executed search warrants at various locations in Trenton. As a result, detectives arrested 25 people and seized three handguns, $264,000 worth of heroin, $52,000 worth of cocaine, $1,700 worth of ecstasy, $1,900 worth of marijuana, $13,676 cash, drug packaging materials, and drug paraphernalia.

“We allege that Shawn Davis was a major heroin supplier who, along with Tracy Edwards and the others arrested in this operation, conspired to distribute heroin throughout the City of Trenton,” said Attorney General Porrino.  “Not only did this drug ring fuel the terrible scourge of opiate addiction destroying lives and families throughout New Jersey, they supplied the street-level drug dealing that is behind most of the gun violence in Trenton.”

“The takedown of this violent group is critical to the safety of the citizens of Trenton, and it helps to curb the flow of heroin and guns into the city and surrounding area,” said Colonel Rick Fuentes, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “This operation was successful because of the cooperation and positive working relationship we have with our federal, county, and local partners.”

“Operations like this send a strong message that law enforcement stands with the people of Trenton, who want their city to be a safe place to live, work, and raise children, not an open-air drug market,” said Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice.  “We will aggressively prosecute these defendants.”   

The following were arrested:

SHAWN T. DAVIS, 41, of Hamilton Township

• Leader of a narcotics trafficking network, 1st degree
• Promoting organized street crime, 1st degree
• Possession with intent to distribute cocaine, 1st degree
• Unlawful possession of a handgun, 1st degree
• Possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime, 2nd degree
• Certain persons not to possess weapons, 2nd degree
• Conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, 2nd degree
• Possession of a controlled dangerous substance, 3rd degree
• Financial facilitation of criminal activity, 3rd degree

TRACY EDWARDS, 24, of Trenton

• Distribution of heroin, 1st degree
• Distribution of cocaine, 2nd degree
• Distribution within 1,000 feet of a school, 3rd degree
• Conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, 2nd degree
• Possession of a controlled dangerous substance, 3rd degree
• Financial facilitation of criminal activity, 3rd degree
• Unlawful possession of a handgun, 2nd degree
• Possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime, 2nd degree
• Manufacture, transport, disposition and defacement of weapons, 4th degree

JEROME PERSON, 38, of Trenton

• Distribution of cocaine, 3rd degree
• Distribution within 1,000 feet of a school, 3rd degree
• Conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, 2nd degree
• Possession of a controlled dangerous substance, 3rd degree

RICARDO CRUZ, 43, of Trenton

• Distribution of cocaine, 3rd degree
• Distribution of heroin, 3rd degree
• Distribution within 1,000 feet of a school, 3rd degree
• Distribution within 500 feet of a public park, 2nd degree
• Conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, 2nd degree
• Possession of a controlled dangerous substance, 3rd degree

TAIBIKA DAWSON, 42, of Trenton

• Fortified structure
• Possession with intent to distribute
• Possession of a controlled dangerous substance
• Possession of paraphernalia

ANGELICA MENDEZ, 26, of Trenton

• Fortified structure
• Possession with intent to distribute
• Possession of a controlled dangerous substance
• Possession of paraphernalia

ARAMIS J. WRIGHT, 44, of Trenton

• Possession of marijuana under 50 grams
• Possession of paraphernalia

VICTORIA LOFTIN, 28, of Trenton

• Possession of marijuana under 50 grams
• Possession of paraphernalia

JULISA BURTON, 26, of Trenton

• Possession of marijuana under 50 grams
• Possession of paraphernalia

PRINCE O. JONES JR., 44, of Trenton

• Fortified structure
• Possession with intent to distribute
• Possession of a controlled dangerous substance
• Possession of paraphernalia

CHARLENE RODRIGUEZ, 27, of Trenton

• Fortified structure
• Possession with intent to distribute
• Possession of a controlled dangerous substance
• Possession of paraphernalia

WILLIAM HOLZENDORF, 47, of Trenton

• Unlawful possession of a handgun, 1st degree
• Possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime, 2nd degree
• Conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, 2nd degree
• Distribution of heroin, 3rd degree
• Distribution within 1,000 feet of a school, 3rd degree
• Possession of a controlled dangerous substance, 3rd degree
• Manufacture, transport, disposition and defacement of weapons, 4th degree

DONOVAN O. VEREEN, 22, of Trenton

• Conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, 2nd degree

BREQUAN J. WOMACK, 29, of Trenton

• Conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, 2nd degree
• Distribution of heroin, 3rd degree
• Distribution within 1,000 feet of a school, 3rd degree
• Possession of a controlled dangerous substance, 3rd degree

WILLIE A. GREEN III, 26, of Trenton

• Conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, 2nd degree

LEON INGRAM, 38, of Trenton

• Possession with intent to distribute marijuana
• Possession of marijuana

RUSH MARZAH, 24, of Trenton

• Conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, 2nd degree
• Distribution of heroin, 3rd degree
• Possession of a controlled dangerous substance, 3rd degree

JAQUAN BLAND, 26, Trenton

• Conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, 2nd degree

TRAITIANA EDWARDS, 28, of Trenton

• Distribution of heroin, 2nd degree
• Conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, 2nd degree
• Possession of a controlled dangerous substance, 3rd degree
• Possession of under 50g marijuana
• Possession of prescription legend drugs

KARL DAVIS, 31, of Levittown, Pa.

• Conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, 2nd degree

TAMICA FREEMEN, 37, of Trenton

• Possession with intent to distribute heroin
• Possession of heroin
• Money laundering

GLEN MOORE, 47, of Whiting Township

• Possession of heroin

CHRISTOPHER OCHS, 44, of Allentown Borough, NJ

• Possession of heroin

ROBERT MINELLI, 59, of Ewing

• Possession of heroin

GEORGE MARTZ, 58, of Freehold

• Possession of heroin

Robert Minelli, Glen Moore, Christopher Ochis, Aramis J. Wright, Leon Ingram, and Julsia Burton were released pending court. All others were transported Mercer County Jail awaiting a bail hearing.

This case is being prosecuted by the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice.  Members of the Bucks County, Pennsylvania Prosecutor’s Office also assisted with the investigation. 

Charges are mere accusations, and the suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.

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