MAYS LANDING, N.J. — The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office announced Monday that twin brothers from Atlantic City entered a guilty plea to charges of leading a drug trafficking network and weapons violations after a multi-agency investigation known as Operation Florida Keys.
Both 40-year-olds Justin and Joseph Suarez pleaded guilty to first-degree charges of possession of a handgun for unlawful purposes and leader of a narcotics trafficking network. Prosecutors will suggest a 28-year sentence with 14 years of parole ineligibility for Joseph Suarez and a 25-year sentence with 12 years of parole ineligibility for Justin Suarez in return for their guilty pleas.
The pleas came after a two-year investigation that resulted in the execution of about 20 search warrants throughout Atlantic County on November 14, 2022. Investigators found two weapons, more than $85,000 in cash, 5.6 ounces of crack cocaine, and more than 40,000 folds of fentanyl packaged for sale. The main players in the drug ring based on Atlantic City’s South Florida Avenue were found to be the Suarez brothers.
At the time of the investigation, Justin Suarez was a participant in Atlantic County’s Recovery Court program. For breaking its provisions, he is anticipated to be given a concurrent sentence. Jose R. Perez-Paredes, 31, and Yoao Jerez Tejada, 29, were arrested after Joseph Suarez orchestrated several cocaine deliveries, including one that was intercepted from Philadelphia. After entering guilty pleas, the men were given terms of five and seven years, respectively.
The area drug network is dismantled by Operation Florida Keys.
Additionally, investigators followed 39-year-old Orlando Perez of New York, who was apprehended transporting fentanyl to Joseph Suarez from the Bronx. Following a car stop during which $5,800 and more than 4,000 folds of fentanyl were found, Perez was taken into custody. He entered a guilty plea and faces a three-year sentence in state prison.
Joseph Suarez had fentanyl brought and kept by Pleasantville resident Arcadia Ridley, 34. A loaded firearm and about 17,000 folds of fentanyl were found during a search of her residence. She entered a guilty plea and is awaiting punishment as part of a five-year plea deal. During his plea, Joseph Suarez acknowledged that he owned the gun and that it was used to support the drug enterprise.
A stolen 9mm handgun with a high-capacity magazine was found during a separate search of Justin Suarez’s stash home. Justin Suarez admitted to having the weapon for the purpose of distributing drugs, and DNA evidence linked him to it.
Terria Acosta, their 57-year-old mother, also entered a guilty plea to financial facilitation of criminal activity. She is anticipated to serve a four-year term after being found in possession of more than $44,000 in narcotics earnings. Investigators used surveillance and intercepted calls to connect her to narcotics money transactions.
Members of the network might receive long sentences for offenses involving distribution and weapons.
Other Suarez operation participants also entered guilty pleas. Police discovered 15,000 folds of fentanyl and cash in the apartment where 60-year-old Howard Cubbage kept and sold fentanyl. He is anticipated to spend ten years behind bars and be ineligible for parole for five of those years. For having an untraceable firearm found in Cubbage’s house, Roderick Holsey, 35, received a seven-year term.
James DiMeo, 61, and Keith Potter, 63, both pleaded to conspiracy counts and are anticipated to serve probationary jail time in the county. DiMeo’s apartment was searched, and more than 4,000 folds of fentanyl bearing the True Religion stamp were found.
For Justin Suarez, Safiyah Hauser, 38, held a weapon and kept drugs. She faces a seven-year term after entering a guilty plea. Maurice Braxton, 36, is currently serving a seven-year term for conspiracy, firearms charges, and aggravated assault. He was caught on camera attacking a guy under Joseph Suarez’s orders.
State and federal authorities coordinated a multi-agency investigation.
Among others, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, the Atlantic City Police Department, and the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office carried out the investigation. The inquiry was headed by Sergeant Chad Meyers, Detective Christopher Dodson, and Resident Agent Frank Deerr.
All defendants are being prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Chris D. Esposito of the Gangs, Guns, and Narcotics Unit.
After entering guilty pleas to running the fentanyl and weapons business, two brothers at the head of a large Atlantic City narcotics network now face decades in jail.
