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State
Indictments Charge 11 With Selling Counterfeit Cigarettes,
Ecstacy And Marijuana In Wake Of Sweeping Investigation
Targeting Criminal Activity In Atlantic City - S. Jersey
TRENTON - Attorney General Zulima V. Farber announced that
11 individuals have been charged in six state grand jury
indictments with operating multiple criminal enterprises
in the Atlantic City-South Jersey area that include the sale
of thousands of cartons of counterfeit cigarettes and the
illegal distribution of Ecstacy and marijuana.
“The Attorney General’s Office, through the State Police,
Division of Gaming Enforcement and Division of Criminal Justice, is committed
to aggressively pursuing criminal activity by prosecuting anyone who engages
in any form of crime,” Attorney General Farber said. “These
indictments represent the outcome of an extensive investigation that uncovered
the importation and sale of thousands of cartons of illegal cigarettes
and the sale of illegal and dangerous drugs. The charges are significant
and the defendants will face stiff penalties.”
Division of Criminal Justice Director Gregory A. Paw and Thomas Auriemma,
Director, Division of Gaming Enforcement, noted that during a two-year
period, undercover State Police detectives assigned to the Division of
Gaming Enforcement successfully infiltrated several criminal groups operating
out of the Atlantic City-South Jersey-Philadelphia area. The undercover
investigation -- “Operation Marlboro” -- resulted in the purchase
of more than 32,000 cartons of counterfeit Marlboro Light cigarettes, the
purchase of 25,000 Ecstacy pills and the negotiated purchase of more than
80 pounds of hydroponically-grown marijuana.
Criminal Justice Director Paw said the 11 individuals named in the state
grand jury indictments were charged with multiple counts of conspiracy,
money laundering, distribution of controlled dangerous substances, counterfeiting,
and related criminal violations.
The defendants are identified as:
- Alex Long, 45, Cherry Hill, Camden County. Charged in five separate
state grand jury indictments with multiple counts of conspiracy to distribute
controlled dangerous substances, distribution of controlled
dangerous substances, money laundering, conspiracy to commit counterfeiting,
and trademark counterfeiting. Arrested in May, 2005. Released on bail
pending state grand jury indictment;
- Leslie Mak, 44, Mt. Laurel, Burlington County. Charged with
multiple counts of conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous
substances, distribution of controlled dangerous substances,
money laundering, conspiracy to commit counterfeiting, and
trademark counterfeiting. Formerly employed as the Manager of the Golden
Dynasty Restaurant at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino. Arrested in June,
2005. Released on bail pending state grand jury indictment;
- Tommy Le, 28, Phila., PA. Charged with money laundering. Arrested
in June, 2005. Released on bail pending state grand jury
indictment;
- David Le, 25, Phila., PA. Charged with multiple counts of conspiracy
to distribute controlled dangerous substances, distribution
of controlled dangerous substances, and money laundering.
Pending arraignment and bail in Atlantic County Superior
Court;
- Chi Liang “Tommy” Cheung, 40, Brigantine, Atlantic
County. Charged with multiple counts of conspiracy to commit
counterfeiting, trademark counterfeiting, and money laundering.
Pending arraignment and bail in Atlantic County Superior
Court;
- Gon Key Yuen, Atlantic City, Atlantic County. Charged with
conspiracy to commit counterfeiting, trademark counterfeiting,
and money laundering. Formerly employed as a waiter at the
Golden Dynasty Restaurant at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino.
Pending arraignment and bail in Atlantic County Superior Court;
- David Diep, 41, Phila., PA. Charged with multiple counts of
conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous substances,
distribution of controlled dangerous substances, and money
laundering. Arrested in May, 2005. Released on bail pending
state grand jury indictment;
- Ky Diep, 44, Phila., PA. Charged with conspiracy to distribute
controlled dangerous substances and distribution of controlled
dangerous substances. Arrested in May, 2005. In custody in
state prison on a violation of probation;
- Nghiep Pho Mach, 31, Phila., PA. Charged with conspiracy to
distribute controlled dangerous substances and distribution
of controlled dangerous substances. Arrested in December,
2005. Incarcerated in Atlantic County Jail;
- Sang Hoang Le, 29, Phila., PA. Charged with conspiracy to distribute
controlled dangerous substances and distribution of controlled
dangerous substances. Pending arraignment and bail in Atlantic
County Superior Court;
- Alvin Towheng Kim, age unknown, Phila., PA. Charged with conspiracy
to distribute controlled dangerous substances, distribution
of controlled dangerous substances, and money laundering.
Pending arraignment and bail in Atlantic County Superior
Court;
According to Director Paw, the state grand jury indictments allege that
at varying times from April, 2004 through June, 2005, Alex Long and the
co-defendants engaged in criminal activity by distributing, possessing,
or negotiating the sale of large quantities of illegal drugs, specifically
Ecstacy and hydroponically-grown marijuana - marijuana that is extremely
potent and expensive. The indictments charge Long and the defendants with
selling more than 25,000 Ecstacy pills to the undercover detectives. The
street value of the Ecstacy tablets is minimally twenty-five dollars per
tablet, with a total street value exceeding $625,000.
Another indictment charged that in May, 2005, Long, David Diep, and Ky
Diep negotiated the sale of 80 pounds of hydroponically-grown marijuana
with undercover detectives. It is charged that David and Ky Diep delivered
approximately ten pounds of hydroponic marijuana to the undercover detectives
during a “buy-bust” operation in Atlantic City on May 15, 2005.
The Diep’s were subsequently arrested.
A separate state grand jury indictment charged that from October, 2004
to June, 2005, Long, Mak, Cheung, and Yuen negotiated the sale of 32,040
cartons of counterfeit Marlboro Light cigarettes valued at $1.8 million
to the undercover detective. The indictment alleges that Mak and Chi Lang
Cheung were the principal suppliers of the counterfeit cigarettes and that
Long negotiated the black market price of the counterfeit cigarettes at
five to eight dollars per carton. The retail price of Marlboro cigarettes
is listed at approximately $58.70 per carton or $5.87 per pack.
“The allegations contained in these indictments target the illegal
activities of various loosely organized individuals engaged in the business
of trafficking in counterfeit cigarettes, illegal drugs, and other contraband.
This prosecution sends a message that law enforcement will work together
to maximize resources and to put criminals out of business. Investigations
targeting the illegal and black market sale of counterfeit and/or contraband
cigarettes will continue.” said Director Paw.
“The casino industry is no place for crimes of any type, particularly
those involving the distribution of illegal drugs. The Division of Gaming
Enforcement will immediately move to suspend and revoke any gaming credentials
held by those individuals charged with criminal activity,” Director
Auriemma said. "I commend the State Police and the Casino Prosecution
Bureau for their diligence in conducting the investigation into the criminal
acts affecting the casino industry. It is essential to continue to uphold
the integrity of casino gaming in New Jersey."
“The State Police is proud of the accomplishments represented by
these indictments,” said Captain Jeff Simpkins, supervisor of the
State Police Organized Crime Bureau. “Operation Marlboro touched
on so many different organized criminal activities that we’ll be
feeding on the intelligence gathered for a long time to come. I’m
proud of the skillful undercover and investigative work performed by our
troopers and grateful for all the cooperation we received on this job.”
The sweeping, undercover investigation was coordinated by State Police
detectives assigned to the Division of Gaming Enforcement and prosecuted
by the Division of Criminal Justice. The investigation was conducted by
New Jersey State Police DSFC Charles Atkinson and Det. Salvatore DeGirolamo
of the State Police Casino Unit and State Investigators assigned to the
Division of Criminal Justice. Additional investigative support was received
from the Pennsylvania State Police, Philadelphia District Attorney’s
Office, Philadelphia Police Department, Pennsylvania Attorney General’s
Office, the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office, the federal Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA), and the Margate and Brigantine Police Departments.
Deputy Attorney General Kerry Menchen of the Division of Criminal Justice
- Casino Prosecution Bureau coordinated the prosecution and presented the
case to the state grand jury.
The defendants face more than 20 years in state prison and fines exceeding
$200,000 upon any conviction. The indictments were handed-up to Mercer
County Superior Court Judge Linda R. Feinberg on March 31. The defendants
will be ordered to appear in Atlantic County Superior Court for arraignment
and bail on a date to be set by the Court. An indictment is an accusation.
The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of
law.
Additional information, including copies of the state grand jury indictments,
is available via the Division of Criminal Justice web page at .
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