By: Jeff Sommes
According to a statement released by the United States Attorney’s Office, a Burlington County man has been sentenced to 245 months in prison for his involvement in a significant drug trafficking conspiracy.
The operation distributed over one kilogram of heroin in Trenton and the surrounding areas.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said Jerome Roberts, also known as “Righteous,” 53, was convicted in October 2021 of conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and distribution of 100 grams or more of heroin.
His conviction followed a three-week trial before then-Chief U.S. District Judge Freda L. Wolfson.
The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Georgette Castner on June 13, 2024, in Trenton federal court.
Court documents and trial evidence revealed that from October 2017 to October 2018, Roberts and his associates were involved in a large-scale narcotics conspiracy operating in several areas of Trenton, including Martin Luther King Boulevard, Sanford Street, Middle Rose Street, Southard Street, Hoffman Avenue, and Coolidge Avenue.
The conspiracy aimed to profit from the distribution of heroin and other controlled substances.
Roberts, along with co-conspirator Jakir Taylor, regularly obtained large quantities of heroin from David Antonio, known as “Papi.” Intercepted communications revealed that Taylor and Roberts planned to acquire a significant supply of heroin from Antonio, referred to by Roberts as the “motherlode.”
This delivery was intended to flood the streets of Trenton with as many as 1,500 bricks, approximately 1.5 kilograms, of heroin.
Evidence presented in court demonstrated that Roberts personally distributed substantial amounts of heroin.
For instance, on or about August 10, 2018, Roberts obtained 200 bricks of heroin from Antonio, which he then redistributed to Taylor and others.
During coordinated arrests on October 25, 2018, law enforcement officers arrested Roberts, Taylor, Antonio, and other individuals involved, recovering over 1.4 kilograms of heroin from Antonio’s residence.