Former Stockton College Police Officer Admits Distributing Oxycodone
CAMDEN, N.J. - Carl J. Kotowski, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division, and Paul J. Fishman, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey announced a former Richard Stockton College of New Jersey police officer today admitted selling oxycodone-based pills to an undercover officer and a witness who was cooperating with law enforcement officers.
Marcus Taylor, 41, of Sicklerville, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Renee Marie Bumb to an information charging him with distributing and possessing with intent to distribute oxycodone. As part of his plea agreement, Taylor will forfeit $8,775, consisting of the illegal profits obtained from his sale of oxycodone.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Between November 2012 and January 2013, Taylor sold 537 oxycodone-based prescription pills to either an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration task force officer or the cooperating witness over five meetings, each of which occurred in Clementon, New Jersey. Taylor arranged the meetings with the undercover officer through a series of text messages. Taylor discussed the price of the pills and his hope of fostering a long-term drug distribution relationship. At the Nov. 28, 2012, meeting, Taylor told the undercover officer that the 30-milligram oxycodone pills he sold the officer were obtained through a prescription issued by a doctor, and “if you gonna be a good customer for me and buy these every 28 days for 15 bucks, I won’t give these to nobody.”
None of the transactions involved students or took place at the Stockton College campus, nor was Taylor ever in uniform when the drug sales were made. He resigned in April 2014.
The drug distribution charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for November 14, 2014.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents and officers assigned to the Camden High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area team, under the direction of the DEA Special Agent in Charge Carl J. Kotowski, for the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. He also thanked U.S. Immigration and Customs (ICE) Homeland Security (HSI); the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office; the Westampton Township, Camden, Burlington City and Richard Stockton College police departments; the Delaware River Port Authority; and the N.J. Division of Criminal Justice for their work on the case.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Skahill of the Special Prosecutions Division in Camden.
