Camden Man Admits Role In Drug Trafficking Organization

CAMDEN, N.J. – A member of a drug-trafficking organization has admitted his role in distributing significant amounts of illegal drugs in Camden, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

William Carrillo, 44, of Camden, pleaded guilty Oct. 17, 2019, before U.S. District Judge Renee Marie Bumb in Camden federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, crack cocaine and cocaine.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

An investigation led by the FBI used surveillance tactics, confidential informants, consensual recordings, over 40 controlled drug purchases, record checks, a GPS vehicle tracker, and several court-authorized wiretaps to uncover Carrillo’s role in the operations of a drug-trafficking organization based on the 500 block of Pine Street in Camden.

The count to which Carrillo pleaded guilty carries a mandatory penalty of five years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison, and a $5 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 21, 2020.

U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI’s South Jersey Violent Offender and Gang Task Force, South Jersey Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael T. Harpster; the Camden County Police Department, under the direction of Chief Joseph Wysocki; the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer; the Camden County Sherriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Gilbert L. Wilson; the Cherry Hill Police Department, under the direction of Chief William P. Monaghan; and the N.J. State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty pleas. He also thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Department of Homeland Security for their assistance.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara A. Aliabadi and Patrick C. Askin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.

Four other members of the drug-trafficking conspiracy – Ronnie Lopez, Nelson Salcedo, Paul Salcedo, and Waldemar Garcia – previously have pleaded guilty in this case. Charges remain pending against 14 other defendants; they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Defense counsel: Megan J. Davies Esq., Cherry Hill, New Jersey