SACRAMENTO, CA – Another piece of a large-scale Sacramento drug operation crumbled this week as Jerome Adams, 56, of North Highlands, pleaded guilty to federal drug charges. Adams is the seventh defendant to admit guilt in a conspiracy that flooded North Sacramento with cocaine and heroin, according to court documents.
Adams confessed to two counts of using a cellphone to facilitate drug trafficking – a common tactic employed by traffickers to shield their activities. Federal investigators intercepted Adams during a 30-day wiretap, documenting his involvement in the distribution of crack cocaine, powder cocaine, and heroin. The case stems from a 2021 multi-agency operation targeting narcotics traffickers, spearheaded by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
The bust isn’t a solo act. A massive coalition of federal and state agencies – including the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Marshals, ATF, U.S. Forest Service, and even the California Department of Corrections – all played a role in dismantling this network. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cameron L. Desmond and Aaron D. Pennekamp are leading the prosecution.
Adams faces a maximum sentence of eight years in prison and a $250,000 fine, though the actual penalty will be determined by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley on May 4, 2023, factoring in sentencing guidelines and other considerations. The guilty plea follows a string of convictions in recent months. Michael Hampton, 57, of Vallejo, received five years for conspiracy to distribute cocaine on December 8, 2022. Charles Carter, 36, of Sacramento, was sentenced to 70 months for the same charge on November 17, 2022. Jason Tolbert, 45, of Sacramento, got 57 months for cocaine possession with intent to distribute on September 29, 2022.
The net is tightening, but several suspects remain at large. Bobby Conner, 51, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty to communication facility charges and awaits sentencing on March 2, 2023. Arlington Caine, 48, of Rio Linda, and Andre Hellams, 40, of North Highlands, also pleaded guilty to similar charges, with sentencing dates set for March 16, 2023, and February 9, 2023, respectively. Still outstanding are Tyrone Anderson, 40, of Sacramento; Maurice Bryant, 51, of Antelope; Yovanny Ontiveros, 41, of Sacramento; Alex White, 61, of North Highlands; Steven Hampton, 61, of Sacramento; Wilmer Harden, 52, of Elk Grove; Dwight Haney, 49, of Sacramento; and Mark Martin, 62, of Sacramento.
This prosecution falls under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, a program designed to co-locate multi-agency teams to enhance intelligence sharing and coordination. The Sacramento Strike Force is a testament to the increasing emphasis on collaborative efforts to combat major drug trafficking organizations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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