MAYS LANDING- An Atlantic City man has been sentenced on drug trafficking charges and for the drug induced deaths of three overdose victims, Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Cary Shill announced.
George Stokes, 44, was sentenced today on the following charges, which he pleaded guilty to on Oct. 15, 2021:
- 1st degree Leader of a Drug Trafficking Network (20 years)
- 1st degree Drug Induced Death of Hector Santos of Atlantic City on 4/26/17 (10 years No Early Release Act, NERA)
- 1st degree Drug Induced Death of William Ang of Somers Point on 6/2/17 (10 years NERA)
- 1st degree Drug Induced Death of Caroline Boothby, Margate on 8/2/17 (10 years NERA)
*All sentences are to be served concurrently.
Investigations into these three drug related deaths was undertaken by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit. After months of investigation, it was concluded that the fatal drugs in each case—specifically, fentanyl—were distributed by Stokes as part of a narcotics trafficking operation he led in Atlantic City throughout 2017. It was also discovered that he maintained multiple CDS manufacturing premises in Atlantic City and Hamilton Township for the production and packaging of the drugs, which included heroin and fentanyl. Stokes employed as many as ten individuals in his operation, some of whom are also charged with playing a role in distributing the fatal drugs.