Egg Harbor City Teen Indicted on Drug and Weapons Offenses

An Egg Harbor City man has been indicted for weapons and drug related offenses in connection with selling a stolen gun and participating in a heroin trafficking ring.

This week, an Atlantic County Grand Jury indicted 19-year-old Ernest Collier in connection with two separate cases in which he distributed heroin and conducted the illegal sale of a
stolen firearm.

Last December, as part of a lengthy investigation, police executed search warrants at two units in the Philadelphia Village Housing Complex on Buffalo Avenue. Authorities seized over $10,000 worth of heroin, multiple firearms, ammunition, cash, and a two-way radio system. Nine individuals, including Collier and co-defendant 19-year-old Steven Martinez, also of Egg Harbor City, were arrested in connection with heroin trafficking. Prior to the execution of the search warrants, Collier and Martinez were observed by detectives arranging and conducting heroin transactions on eight separate occasions.

On Christmas Eve, nearly a week after Collier’s arrest on the drug charges, he was arrested again for selling a stolen firearm to an individual while under surveillance by police. On Tuesday, an Atlantic County Grand Jury indicted Collier for unlawful sale of a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm and receiving stolen property.

Today, Collier was indicted for eight counts of possession of heroin, nine counts of distribution of heroin and seven counts of conspiracy to distribute heroin. Martinez was also indicted for six counts of possession of heroin, seven counts of distribution of heroin and seven counts of conspiracy to distribute heroin.

The cases against the remaining individuals arrested in connection with the heroin trafficking ring remain pending.