A Camden man was sentenced today to 360 months in prison for conspiring to sell 280 grams or more of cocaine base and quantities of furanyl fentanyl and heroin, as well as distributing and possessing with intent to distribute these drugs, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Honig, John Gunther, 38, was convicted on April 18, 2019, after an 11-day trial before U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb in Camden federal court. Judge Bumb imposed the sentence today in Camden federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial:
Brothers John and Taleaf Gunther worked together to lead a prolific drug trafficking organization that sold crack cocaine, heroin, and the synthetic opioid furanyl fentanyl on and around the 1700 block of Filmore Street in Camden, which was controlled by the organization.
William Roland assisted the Gunther brothers as a manager within the organization. Ten members of the drug ring were initially arrested in June 2017 following a long-term investigation by the FBI, which utilized multiple telephone wiretaps, surveillance, confidential informants, cooperating witnesses, more than 20 controlled drug purchases, a GPS vehicle tracker and four court-authorized search warrants, among other investigative techniques.
The investigation ultimately led to the seizure of more than 300 grams of crack cocaine, quantities of furanyl fentanyl and heroin, a firearm, and drug paraphernalia.
Shortly after the execution of search warrants in the case, investigators learned that Taleaf Gunther also attempted to bribe another member of the conspiracy to lie to police about a handgun recovered from a residence he used.
An eleventh member of the organization was charged in 2018. Taleaf Gunther and Roland were convicted along with John Gunther and are awaiting sentencing.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Bumb sentenced Gunther to 10 years of supervised release.