Two members of a Trenton drug trafficking ring were sentenced for their roles in distributing more than one kilogram of heroin in the city and the surrounding area, federal prosecutors announced Monday.
Kahlil Hampton, 29, who uses the street name “Ruger,” was sentenced Monday to over 14 years in prison after he previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said in a statement.
And Donte Ellis, 42, known as “Chalant,” was sentenced Friday to over 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to the same charge earlier this year, Carpenito said. He also admitted that he had a firearm while committing his crime.
Ellis and Hampton were two of 24 people members of the drug trafficking ring charged in October 2018 with conspiracy to distribute heroin, authorities said. So far 20 members have pleaded guilty.
The case originated from a wiretap of cellphones from about October 2017 until the arrests in October 2018.
Ellis, who had been released from state prison in August 2018 for two prior convictions for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, obtained large quantities of heroin several times from another of the accused gang members, Jakir Taylor, which he then gave to others in Trenton, according to the statement.
Ellis also got a gun from Taylor that he used for protection while he redistributed the drugs, officials said.
Hampton was a close associate of Taylor, and regularly obtained and redistributed large quantities of heroin while also having access to one or more guns, Carpenito said.
The dealers moved the drugs in bulk and flooded the city’s west side with them while well-armed with firearms and were "war ready”, according to a text message sent by one of the suspects, federal prosecutors have said.
Officials have said the suspects are from two rival drug-dealing gangs and tensions between the two could have been responsible for the rampant shooting at the Art All Night festival in Trenton last summer that left one dead and nearly 30 wounded. Authorities, however, have never been specific as to how they suspect that.
Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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