Atlantic City, NJ, Drug Dealer Gets Massive 28-year Prison Sentence

An Atlantic City man has been sentenced to nearly three decades behind bars for dealing drugs in the World's Play Ground.

40-year-old Joseph Suarez had pleaded guilty to charges of being the leader of a narcotics trafficking network and possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose.

On Monday, under the terms of a plea agreement, he was sentenced to 28 years in prison with 14 years of mandatory parole ineligibility.

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"Operation Florida Keys"

Authorities say on November 14th, 2022, members of the Atlantic City Police Department, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration executed almost two dozen search warrants across Atlantic County as part of "Operation Florida Keys," which focused on Joseph and Justin Suarez's control of the drug trade on South Florida Avenue in Atlantic City.

In all, investigators recovered over 40,000 folds of fentanyl that were individually packaged for sale, over $85,000 in cash, two handguns, and 5.6 ounces of crack cocaine.

According to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, Joseph Suarez was responsible for coordinating deliveries of crack cocaine and fentanyl to South Florida Avenue from Philadelphia and the Bronx, while also supplying and overseeing numerous co-conspirators who stored and sold crack cocaine and fentanyl on his behalf.

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Twin Brothers' Sentencing Soon

His twin brother, Justin, is expected to be sentenced later this month after pleading guilty to the same charges. He is expected to receive a 25-year prison sentence.