Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman today announced that the Atlantic City Task Force has arrested 19 alleged drug dealers and dismantled a major drug network that trafficked heroin from Paterson into Atlantic and Ocean counties. A 20th defendant is being sought on a warrant. The arrests are the result of an eight-month investigation by the Atlantic City Task Force (ACTF) which revealed that the drug network was distributing approximately 30,000 doses of heroin per month in Atlantic and Ocean counties, where heroin and prescription pain pills have fueled an epidemic of opiate addiction and overdoses, including many fatal overdoses. The task force has seized 16,000 doses or “bags” of heroin and over $52,000 in cash since April 18, when the partnering agencies began making arrests and executing search warrants in the takedown of the drug network. Ring members allegedly sold heroin containing the deadly cutting agent fentanyl and employed a juvenile to sell heroin. The investigation also revealed that ring members conducted heroin transactions in front of young children, and took public assistance subsidies in exchange for heroin. On April 18, task force partners arrested three Atlantic County residents who allegedly were the top members of the heroin network, as well as two of their alleged suppliers from Bergen County. Each of these five defendants is charged with first-degree possession of heroin with intent to distribute and second-degree conspiracy to distribute heroin: Saleem Hamilton, 32, of Atlantic City, Helene Gonzalez, 37, of Pleasantville, Tarik Hopkins, 33, of Galloway, Richard Michilena, 24, of Elmwood Park, and Bolivar Delacruz, 38, of Lodi. Gonzalez also is charged with employing a juvenile to commit a drug offense (2nd degree), endangering the welfare of a child (2nd degree), possession of heroin (3rd degree), possession with intent to distribute within one thousand feet of a school (3rd degree), and theft by deception (food stamp fraud) (3rd degree). Hamilton, the alleged head of the drug network, was arrested in Atlantic City. Gonzalez and Hopkins, who allegedly were top deputies under Hamilton, were arrested in Paterson at 33rd Street and 13th Avenue, where they allegedly met suppliers Michilena and Delacruz on the night of April 18 to obtain additional heroin for distribution in Atlantic and Ocean counties. Task force members had Gonzalez and Hopkins under surveillance and converged to make arrests after the pair met with Michilena and Delacruz. All five defendants were lodged in the Atlantic County Jail with bail set at $500,000 for each. During the arrests, investigators seized a purse containing $23,885 in cash that Gonzalez and Hopkins allegedly gave to Delacruz and Michilena to purchase the heroin. Investigators also seized 10,000 single-dose wax paper folds or “bags” of heroin, which were packaged in 200 bundles of 50 known as “bricks.” The heroin was found during execution of a search warrant in a black duffel bag in the back seat of a BMW that Michilina drove to the location. The wax paper folds were stamped with the brand name “Tap Out” in purple ink. An additional $14,575 in cash was later seized from Gonzalez’s home during execution of a search warrant. A search warrant executed at Hamilton’s home led to seizure of $5,904 in cash and about one ounce of marijuana. The ACTF subsequently executed a series of search and arrest warrants, arresting the 14 additional defendants listed below. A total of nine search warrants were executed, including those executed on April 18. An additional 6,000 wax paper folds of heroin were seized, along with a .32-caliber handgun, 2 ounces of crack cocaine, and another $8,620 in cash, bringing the total cash seizures to $52,984. Six vehicles were seized, including the BMW seized from Michilena and a Cadillac Escalade seized from Hamilton. An arrest warrant has been issued for one defendant, Travaghn Wood, 34, of Pleasantville, who remains a fugitive. Wood is charged with distribution of heroin (2nd degree), conspiracy (2nd degree), possession of a weapon as a convicted felon (2nd degree), unlawful possession of a weapon (2nd degree), possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose (2nd degree) and unlawful sale of a weapon (4th degree). The following defendants also were arrested in the investigation and charged as indicated: Kevin Moreno, 34, Mays Landing. Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin (3rd degree) Conspiracy to Commit the Forgoing Crimes (3rd degree) Michael Preston, 37, Atlantic City. Distribution of Heroin (2nd degree) Possession with Intent to Distribute Within 500 Feet of Public Zone (2nd degree) Conspiracy to Commit the Forgoing Crimes (2nd degree) Lamont Cooper, 37, Pleasantville. Possession with Intent to Distribute Within 1,000 feet of a School (3nd degree) Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin (3rd degree) Conspiracy to Commit the Forgoing Crimes (3rd degree) Jeffrey Buchanan, 37, Elmer. Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin (3rd degree) Conspiracy to Commit the Forgoing Crimes (3rd degree) Andrew Albanese, 43, Eagleswood. Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin (3rd degree) Conspiracy to Commit the Forgoing Crimes (3rd degree) Johnathan Puggi, 37, Little Egg Harbor Township. Conspiracy to Possess Heroin (3rd degree) Peter Pharo, 38, Little Egg Harbor Township. Conspiracy to Possess Heroin (3rd degree) Samantha Pharo, 35, Little Egg Harbor Township. Conspiracy to Possess Heroin (3rd degree) Corey Leuffgen, 31, Little Egg Harbor Township. Endangering the Welfare of a Child (2nd degree) Conspiracy to Possess Heroin (3rd degree) Chris Kulwein, 32, Little Egg Harbor Township. Conspiracy to Possess Heroin (3rd degree) Aimee Higman, 34, Little Egg Harbor Township. Conspiracy to Possess Heroin (3rd degree) Lavelle Robinson, 54, Pleasantville. Conspiracy to Possess Heroin (3rd degree) Kindra Brown, 33, Mays Landing. Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin (3rd degree) Conspiracy to Commit the Forgoing Crimes (3rd degree) Musa Ali, 54, of Atlantic City. Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana (3rd degree) Possession with Intent to Distribute Untaxed Cigarettes (4th degree)