Atlantic City Task Force & U.S. Homeland Security Investigations collaborated in investigation

Terrance Harris, 39, of Pleasantville, N.J., was sentenced today to 10 years in prison, including three years of parole ineligibility, by Superior Court Judge Jeffrey J. Waldman in Atlantic County. Harris pleaded guilty on July 10 to a charge of second-degree distribution of heroin stemming from the 2017 investigation by the Atlantic City Task Force and HSI. Harris also pleaded guilty on July 10 to a charge of second-degree possession of methamphetamine, which was filed by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office as the result of Harris’ arrest in Pleasantville on March 6, 2018. Harris was sentenced today to a concurrent term of 10 years in state prison with three years of parole ineligibility on that charge.

Special Deputy Attorney General David Ringlaben handled the sentencing for the Division of Criminal Justice Specialized Crimes Bureau and Atlantic City Task Force. Ringlaben is an Assistant Prosecutor in the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office assigned to the task force. He prosecuted the case with Deputy Attorney General James Ruberton.

An investigation by members of the Atlantic City Task Force and federal agents of HSI in March and April 2017 revealed that Harris was a substantial heroin dealer in the Atlantic City-Pleasantville area. Investigators arranged multiple controlled purchases of heroin from Harris during the investigation. On June 2, 2017, investigators stopped Harris’ vehicle in Pleasantville, and with the assistance of a canine from the Pleasantville Police Department K-9 Unit, discovered a small quantity of heroin in the vehicle. A subsequent search of a shed in the yard of Harris’ residence resulted in the seizure of a stolen 9mm semi-automatic pistol and a .223-caliber rifle with laser sight. Also seized in the shed were more than a kilogram of heroin – consisting of about 7,900 stamped wax folds of heroin, with half a dozen different brand stamps, and a quantity of bulk heroin – more than a kilogram of cocaine, suspected powder cutting agents, mixing utensils, scales and $7,465 in U.S. currency. The seized heroin had a street value of approximately $100,000, and the cocaine had an estimated value of over $40,000.

“Thanks to the proactive and collaborative work of the Atlantic City Task Force and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, we have put this significant narcotics distributor behind bars,” said Attorney General Grewal. “In addition to fueling the opioid epidemic and other forms of addiction, Harris was dealing in deadly illegal weapons, as evidenced by the guns seized. We have made our communities in the Atlantic City area safer by putting this dangerous drug dealer in prison.”

“This prison sentence is another victory for the Atlantic City Task Force and the residents in Atlantic County,” said Director Veronica Allende of the Division of Criminal Justice. “The task force has locked up hundreds of drug dealers and gun-toting criminals since its formation in 2011, and we will continue to conduct these targeted investigations in collaboration with HSI and our other strong partners.”

“Harris was in the business of bringing violence and these deadly substances into our communities,” said Colonel Patrick Callahan, Acting Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “Heroin erodes communities and ruins lives. I commend the outstanding work of our troopers and partners in the Atlantic City Task Force who worked diligently to ensure this prison sentence.”

The Atlantic City Task Force includes the Division of Criminal Justice, New Jersey State Police, State Parole Board, Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, Atlantic County Sheriff’s Office, Atlantic City Police Department, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Little Egg Harbor Township Police, Brigantine Police and Pleasantville Police. The task force frequently partners with HSI Cherry Hill, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Attorney General Grewal commended the members of the Atlantic City Task Force and the special agents of HSI Cherry Hill, under the direction of Resident Agent in Charge Richard Reinhold, who worked on the investigation. Detective Dennis Quinn of the New Jersey State Police Atlantic City Metro Task Force Unit was the lead detective on the case for the Atlantic City Task Force.

Defense Attorney: Joseph A. Levin, Esq., Levin Pisetzner Levin, Atlantic City, N.J.

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