Atlantic County Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Role in Drug Distribution Scheme

CAMDEN, N.J. – An Atlantic County, New Jersey, man was sentenced to 168 months in prison for his role in drug distribution scheme, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.

Ricardo Clavijo, 42, of Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before the U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb to an information charging him with one count of conspiring to distribute over one kilogram of heroin, one count of possession with intent to distribute over one kilogram of heroin, and one count of maintaining a drug-related premises. Judge Bumb imposed the sentence on June 22, 2023, in Camden federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

On July 12, 2021, a search warrant was executed at Clavijo’s residence, where law enforcement authorities encountered Clavijo and his brother, Christopher Gonzalez. Authorities found a drug packaging facility in the basement, as well as 4.3 kilograms of heroin, 5.5 kilograms of fentanyl, 10.8 kilograms of cocaine, drug packaging materials and equipment, and a money counting machine. Some of the heroin was already packaged in tens of thousands of individual doses, ready for street-level distribution. Agents also seized a .45 caliber handgun, a loaded magazine for the handgun, a 9mm 50-round drum magazine, and $8,457 in cash, all of which will be forfeited by Clavijo as part of his guilty plea.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Bumb sentenced Clavijo to five years of supervised release.

Gonzalez pleaded guilty in October 2022 to his role in the conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division, DEA Atlantic County HIDTA Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz, with the investigation leading to the sentencing. He also thanked the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor William Reynolds, and the Egg Harbor Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Frederick Spano, for their assistance.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew B. Johns of the Criminal Division in Camden.