The alleged leader of an Atlantic City drug ring was indicted on 29 charges, including three counts of drug induced death.
George Stokes George Stokes, 41, was indicted Feb. 1 on first-degree leader of a narcotics trafficking network, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl near schools and public housing, operating a drug manufacturing facility and weapons charges, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said in a statement Wednesday.
Stokes has been charged for the deaths of Hector Santos on March 19, 2017, who died at his home in Atlantic City; William Ang, Jr., who died June 2, 2017 at his home in Somers Point; and Caroline Boothby, who died on Aug. 2, 2017 at her home in Margate.
Investigations that spanned months into each of the three drug-induced deaths found that the fatalities were each caused by fentanyl -- a powerful synthetic opiod -- that was distributed by Stokes through a drug trafficking operation he led in Atlantic City throughout 2017.
Authorities say Stokes maintained drug manufacturing facilities in Atlantic City and Hamilton Township where drugs, including heroin and fentanyl, were produced and packaged. He allegedly employed up to 10 people, some of whom were also charged for their role in distributing the fatal doses.
Stokes faces life in prison on the drug trafficking leader charge alone. The drug induced death charges each carry a maximum of 20 years, with no early release -- meaning 85 percent of the term would have to be served before Stokes is parole eligible. The drug manufacturing facility charges each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years -- 10 without parole.
Judge Benjamin Podolnick on Wednesday at the Mays Landing Criminal Courthouse ordered Stokes to be detained pending trial.
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