Camden Man Admits Role in Heroin Trafficking Ring

CAMDEN, N.J. — Jose Diaz, 29, of Camden, admitted today to running a high-volume heroin and fentanyl trafficking operation in one of the city’s most lawless zones. Diaz, once a shift manager for a violent drug ring, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute more than one kilogram of a mixture containing heroin, 280 grams or more of crack cocaine, cocaine, and fentanyl-laced narcotics.

The operation ran unchecked on the 400-500 block of Pine Street in 2018, flooding the streets with lethal doses of pre-packaged drugs cut with fentanyl. Diaz supervised street-level dealers who worked rotating shifts, collected cash, and reported up the chain. He ensured the constant flow of heroin, crack, and cocaine — all distributed under the watch of armed enforcers and hidden surveillance.

Nineteen suspects were arrested in late 2018 following a sprawling FBI investigation that used wiretaps, confidential informants, controlled buys, and video surveillance to dismantle the organization. At the time of the raids, law enforcement recovered multiple firearms from stash houses and distribution points tied to the gang. The investigation was led by the FBI’s South Jersey Violent Offender and Gang Task Force.

So far, 16 members of the ring have pleaded guilty. Two remain headed for trial: Juan Figueroa and Christopher Vasquez, whose court date is set for May 9, 2022. Charges against them are still pending, and they are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Diaz faces a mandatory 10-year prison sentence, a maximum of life behind bars, and a $10 million fine. U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb scheduled sentencing for March 21, 2022. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara A. Aliabadi and Patrick C. Askin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.

The operation was part of a larger Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) initiative targeting top-tier traffickers. Agencies involved include the FBI, Camden County Police, Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, N.J. State Police, DEA, U.S. Marshals, and Homeland Security. Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig credited the multi-agency takedown as a critical strike against Camden’s narcotics epidemic.