Khalfini Richardson, 33, and Capitol T. Wellons, 32, both of Trenton, are headed to federal prison after being sentenced today for their roles in a multi-year cocaine distribution conspiracy that flooded the streets of New Jersey’s capital with over a kilogram of cocaine and more than 100 grams of crack. U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced the sentences, marking the latest fallout from a drug network that operated out of two adjacent houses in the city.
Richardson was hit with a 156-month sentence, while Wellons will serve 84 months behind bars. Both men previously pleaded guilty to Count One of a federal indictment charging them with conspiracy to distribute and possess 500 grams or more of cocaine and 28 grams or more of cocaine base. U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp handed down the sentences during a hearing in Trenton federal court, where years of illicit drug manufacturing and street-level sales were laid bare.
Court documents reveal the conspiracy ran from September 2013 through January 13, 2016, during which Richardson and Wellons teamed up with co-defendants Bobby Williams and William Enmond to distribute powdered cocaine and convert it into crack. Authorities say the operation was centered on two connected residences used to cook, package, and push drugs into the local market. Both men admitted to handling 1.72 kilograms of cocaine and 122.6 grams of crack.
In addition to prison time, Judge Shipp ordered five years of supervised release for both defendants, a measure intended to monitor their activity upon reentry into society. The sentence underscores the federal government’s ongoing crackdown on organized drug rings in urban centers like Trenton, where violent crime and narcotics have long been intertwined.
Two other co-conspirators have already faced justice. William Enmond was sentenced on July 20, 2017, to 60 months in prison. Bobby Williams has pleaded guilty but awaits sentencing. The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Valerie Nickerson in Newark, with crucial support from federal prosecutors on the ground.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Lorber and Senior Litigation Counsel Joseph Gribko of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Trenton. Defense representation included Brynn Giannullo Esq. for Richardson and Lawrence George Welle Esq. for Wellons. The case number is 18-072.
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Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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