A Bronx man was sent to prison for his role in a major cocaine distribution operation in New Jersey. Derrick Johnson, 49, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
Johnson pleaded guilty to the charges earlier this year, and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden via videoconference. He was also sentenced to eight years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Johnson conspired with Akeil Beggs, 32, of West New York, New Jersey, to distribute cocaine in New York and New Jersey. On October 31, 2019, Johnson traveled to Beggs’ apartment in West New York, where the two coordinated to purchase approximately four kilograms of a substance they believed was cocaine from an individual.
Agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration arrested Johnson and Beggs, and seized $153,577 from Johnson’s vehicle, a loaded firearm from a hidden compartment in Johnson’s vehicle, and $23,607 from Beggs’ apartment.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Pesce represented the government in the case. The investigation was led by special agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Raymond Donovan in New York.
Johnson’s sentencing is the culmination of a long investigation into the cocaine distribution operation. The case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat the flow of illicit substances into our communities.
Johnson’s case is a reminder that those who engage in cocaine distribution will be held accountable for their actions. The sentence he received reflects the gravity of the crime and the harm it causes to individuals and communities.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey continues to prioritize the prosecution of those who engage in cocaine distribution and other serious crimes.
Related Federal Cases
- Sean Lambert, Cocaine Base Distribution, New Jersey 2023 · New York
- Markell Reyes, Crack Cocaine and Heroin Distribution, NJ 2024 · New Hampshire
- Billy Ortega, Fentanyl-Laced Cocaine Distribution, NJ 2024 · New York
- Billy Ortega, Fentanyl-Laced Cocaine Distribution, NY 2021 · New York
- Jose Migel Cleto, Fentanyl Distribution, New Jersey · New York
Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Drug TraffickingDrug TraffickingDrug TraffickingDrug Trafficking