By: Kafi Rosenbaum
According to officials, on Wednesday, August 2, the Atlantic County grand jury indicted John Garman, 38, of Somers Point on the following charges:
- First-degree Leader of the Narcotics Trafficking Network
- First-degree Possession with Intent to Distribute CDS
- First-degree Maintaining a CDS Production Facility
- First-degree Employing a Juvenile in the Commission of a Crime
- Second-degree Employing a Juvenile in a Drug Distribution Scheme
- Second-degree Endangering Child Welfare
- Second-degree Conspiracy to Distribute CDS
- Second-degree Conspiracy to Maintain a CDS Production Facility
- Second-degree Money Laundering
- Second-degree Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering
The grand jury also indicted Donna Shiffler, 39, of Somers Point on the following charges:
- First-degree Possession with Intent to Distribute CDS
- First-degree Maintaining a CDS Production Facility
- First-degree Employing a Juvenile in the Commission of a Crime
- Second-degree Employing a Juvenile in a Drug Distribution Scheme
- Second-degree Endangering Child Welfare
- Second-degree Conspiracy to Distribute CDS
- Second-degree Conspiracy to Maintain a CDS Production Facility
- Second-degree Money Laundering
- Second-degree Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering
Police arrested the couple on Thursday, May 25, following a joint narcotics investigation conducted by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office’s Gangs, Guns, & Narcotics Unit, Somers Point Police Department, and the DEA HIDTA (High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) Mid-Atlantic Task Force.
Authorities alleged that Garman and Shiffler maintained a narcotics manufacturing facility in the Somers Point apartment where they lived with their three minor children, ages 14, 12, and seven years old.
Officials say that throughout the household, including the kitchen, downstairs closet, and primary bedroom, the defendants allegedly possessed large quantities of controlled dangerous substances, including approximately 62 pounds of hashish, about 42 pounds of marijuana, and approximately two pounds of psilocybin mushrooms.
Police said that the manufacturing facility was stocked with packaging materials, labels, and business cards with the name, “Garmans Goods.”
Atlantic County police officials also seized approximately $119,000 in US Currency, which is suspected proceeds from illegal narcotics distribution.
Subsequently, the investigation obtained additional digital evidence indicating that Shiffler and Garman were in continuous communication about drug sales from the residence.
Messages spanning over a year indicated that both Garman and Shiffler utilized their 14-year-old son on a regular basis to prepare, package, and sell drugs on their behalf.
Authorities said that digital evidence also revealed that Garman and Shiffler compensated their son with drugs, including marijuana and THC gummies.
The evidence found by police officials was from the defendant’s “Garman’s Goods” Facebook account, yielding thousands of digital communications indicating that the defendants’ drug trafficking network supplied hundreds of citizens in the Atlantic County community with marijuana, THC products, and psilocybin mushrooms at public locations, including recreation fields, shopping centers, and drug-free school zones.
The defendants were rearrested due to this additional evidence and charges on Thursday, August 3. Their detention hearings are presently scheduled for Wednesday, August 9. They will remain lodged in the Atlantic County Justice Facility pending detention hearings.