CAMDEN – A jury has convicted two brothers accused of leading a ring that peddled crack cocaine and other drugs from the city’s Waterfront South neighborhood.

John “Critty” Gunther, 35, and Taleaf “Leafy” Gunther, 33, were found guilty of distributing crack cocaine, heroin and furanyl fentanyl from the 1700 block of Filmore Street, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for New Jersey.

The jury also convicted an alleged manager for the ring, 37-year-old William “Chill” Roland,  the federal prosecutor’s office said Friday.

The jury returned guilty verdicts Thursday on 10 counts, including conspiring to sell illegal drugs, after an 11-day trial before U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb in Camden.

More: Camden County Police seek civilians who helped at fiery crash scene on I-676

More: Foul ball: Customs officers catch counterfeit Bryce Harper jerseys

Jurors deliberated for about a day-and-a-half, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement.

“Each of the defendants have multiple prior felonies in state court and, therefore, face possible mandatory minimum sentences of 15 years in prison,” the statement said.

Taleaf Gunther pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in November 2006, admitting he fired a shot that struck a toddler in a passing car in October 2004. Gunther said he was showing off when the shooting occurred.

The child, Yahnajeah “Ya-Ya” Kirkland, survived a head wound, but was admitted into a rehabilitation facility.

The Gunther brothers and Roland, all Camden residents, were among 11 people charged with taking part in the drug network.

Ten ring members were arrested in June 2017 after a lengthy FBI investigation; an eleventh was charged last year.

The eight other defendants have pleaded guilty.

The probe led to the seizure of more than 300 grams of crack cocaine, quantities of furanyl fentanyl and heroin, a gun and drug paraphernalia, according to the statement.

It alleged Taleaf Gunther tried to bribe a ring member to lie to police about a gun found in a home he used. That led to a guilty verdict on a count of witness tampering.

Jim Walsh: @jimwalsh_cp; 856-486-2646; jwalsh@gannettnj.com

More: Second Shamong woman faces animal-cruelty charges

More: Life term for man who robbed a Wawa and a gas station

More: Police seek Lindenwold man accused of robbing Berlin Borough bank

More: New Jersey State Police trooper faces child pornography charge

 

 

 

Read or Share this story: https://www.courierpostonline.com/story/news/2019/04/20/john-critty-taleaf-gunther-waterfront-south-crack-cocaine-camden/3528014002/