Two Atlantic County men have been charged with conspiring to distribute heroin, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Federal officials said Mr. Ricardo Clavijo, 39, of Egg Harbor Township and Mr. Christopher Gonzalez, 37, of Pleasantville, were each charged by complaint on July 13, 2021, with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute over one kilogram of heroin.
According to federal officials, both defendants appeared by videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ann Marie Donio and were detained without bail.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On July 12, 2021, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and officers from other law enforcement agencies executed a search warrant at an Egg Harbor Township residence.
They encountered Clavijo at the front door and Gonzalez in the basement. In the basement of the residence, law enforcement officers discovered five kilogram-sized packages of suspected fentanyl, eight kilogram-sized packages of suspected fentanyl or cocaine, two kilogram-sized packages of suspected heroin, tens of thousands of pre-packaged individual doses of suspected heroin, additional narcotics packaging materials and paraphernalia, and an electronic money counter.
Agents also found a .45 caliber handgun, a loaded magazine for the firearm, and a 9mm 50-round drum magazine.
The conspiracy count is punishable by a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life in prison and a fine of $10 million, or twice the gross gain or loss caused by the offense, whichever is most significant.