Ghost gun, sawed-off shotgun and drugs seized in Cumberland County

Anthony V. Coppola, Vineland
·2 min read

BRIDGETON - Multiple weapons and nearly $118,000 in narcotics were seized following a month-long investigation into an alleged criminal drug network operating out of Cumberland County.

New Jersey State Police on Monday announced eight people were charged with various drug and weapon offenses, including seven Bridgeton residents and an Upper Deerfield man.

Among the items recovered was a ghost gun, which lack serial numbers and a federally licensed manufacturer, according to state police.

State police said that while investigating the distribution of drugs in Cumberland County authorities received information that 48-year-old Jermina Lewis of Bridgeton was dealing crack cocaine in the area. According to state police, an investigation found Lewis was operating out of residences in Bridgeton and Fairfield Township.

What NJ State Police found

State police on June 29 executed search warrants on the two residences and a BMW located at the Fairfield Township home. According to state police, the searches produced the following:

  • more than 21 pounds of marijuana

  • more than a pound of crack cocaine

  • Forty-one oxycodone pills

  • 7.7 ounces methamphetamine

  • heroin

  • seven handguns

  • a ghost gun rifle

  • a sawed-off shotgun

  • a handgun conversion kit

  • more than 1,300 rounds of ammunition

  • eight high-capacity magazines

  • three ballistic vests

  • drug paraphernalia

  • more than $38,000 in cash

Who was charged and what charges were filed?

Lewis and Sanya Lawrence, 30, of Bridgeton were both charged with multiple drug offenses in addition to possession of a ghost gun, possession of a sawed-off shotgun, possession of an assault firearm and endangering the welfare of a child.

Bridgeton residents Dihmere Hadden, 28; Ricardo Martin, 40; Desmond Samuels, 53; and Cleve Murray, 64, all were charged with various drug and weapon offenses, as was Desmond Donaldson Jr., 30, of Upper Deerfield. Prince Samuels, 56, of Bridgeton, was charged with possession and distribution of drugs.

“As a result of this investigation, our detectives have undoubtedly made the Cumberland County and surrounding areas safer by preventing these drugs from reaching the communities and removing guns from the streets,” New Jersey State Police Colonel Patrick J. Callahan said.

Lewis, Martin, Hadden, Donaldson Jr. and Desmond Samuels all were taken to Cumberland County Jail. Lawrence was taken to Camden County Jail. Prince Samuels and Murray were released pending court.

The charges against those arrested are only allegations. None of the suspects have been convicted in their respective cases.

A South Jersey native, Anthony Coppola has handled a variety of beats at The Daily Journal, Courier-Post and Burlington County Times, including award-winning work in sports and business coverage. Coppola, who joined the staff in 2008, now focuses on public safety enterprise reporting.

This article originally appeared on Vineland Daily Journal: Cumberland County drug network bust yields weapons, $118K in narcotics