Organization Structure | Human Trafficking Hotline
TRENTON – Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, the New Jersey State Police, and the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) today announced the arrests of 13 New Jersey residents on charges connected to a human trafficking ring they allegedly operated in Central and South Jersey.
Eleana Kuzel of Ventnor, Shalaby Hicks of Pennsauken, Nathaniel Clay of Mount Laurel, Shawn Williams of Lindenwold, Raymond Edness of Mount Holly, Richard Wood of Burlington, Amber Temean of Mount Laurel, Deena Turner of Delanco, Kelley Plotts of Stratford, Anthony Hicks Simms of Camden, Bernard Dandridge of Sicklerville, Nicholas Bray of Haddon Heights and Michael Amoroso of Riverside are charged variously with offenses including racketeering, conspiracy, human trafficking and drug charges in connection with the criminal operation. (See attached chart.)
“The physical and emotional abuse of human trafficking leaves scars that stay with victims for the rest of their lives,” Davenport said in a release. “It is our mission to relentlessly pursue those who exploit others. Anyone who engages in this kind of criminal activity should know one thing: you will be held accountable.”
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, from January 1, 2025, through the present, the New Jersey State Police’s Human Trafficking Unit (HTU) investigated the activities of a human trafficking ring operating across multiple counties in New Jersey, including Middlesex, Ocean, Camden, and Burlington.
The investigation revealed that Shalaby Hicks and Nathaniel Clay allegedly ran a human trafficking “program” in which women they employed engaged in commercial sex acts on their behalf and provide them with all the money they earned. In exchange, Hicks and Clay allegedly paid for their lodging, food, other necessities, transportation, and controlled dangerous substances (CDS). In addition to the human trafficking enterprise, Hicks and Clay also allegedly distributed CDS.
The criminal enterprise found clients by posting advertisements of the women for commercial sex acts on websites such as skipthegames.com and megapersonals.eu. The enterprise forced the victims to post online advertisements of themselves.
In addition, victims of the human trafficking enterprise were expected to provide CDS if they had clients who wanted to purchase it. Hicks would purchase CDS from his suppliers and bring it back to various hotels where he was staying where he would cook the cocaine into crack cocaine, and bag it for distribution.
Hicks allegedly controlled the portion of the enterprise operating out of a hotel in Pennsauken. Hicks allegedly used female and male managers who were responsible for handling the CDS and money on site, as well as enforcing the rules of Hicks’s program. Temean, Kuzel, Williams, and Plotts allegedly served as such managers. Turner is alleged to have assisted in photographing and posting online commercial sex advertisements for Hicks’s victims.
Clay allegedly controlled the portion of the enterprise operating out of a hotel in Maple Shade. He allegedly used male managers – including Wood and Edness, who allegedly provided transportation, CDS, and protection on site. At the time of arrest, Clay is alleged to have been in possession of a handgun.
Kuzel was charged with racketeering, human trafficking, conspiracy, promoting prostitution, distribution of CDS, and financial facilitation of criminal activity, among other offenses.
On May 7, a search warrant was executed for a hotel room allegedly associated with Hicks and his operation. Hicks was present at the time. Approximately 7.79 ounces of suspected crack cocaine, 5 ounces of fentanyl, and 3.77 ounces of methamphetamine were recovered, along with drug paraphernalia and approximately $5,000 in cash. Search warrants were also executed at 3 residences and two additional hotels, which lead to the recovery of 15 victims.
Hicks Simms and Dandridge were allegedly cocaine suppliers for the enterprise. Hicks allegedly obtained the powdered cocaine and cooked it into crack-cocaine, which was supplied to all the victims. Dandridge is also alleged to have been using his residence to manufacture cocaine. At the time of his arrest, he was allegedly in possession of 14 ounces of cocaine, two handguns, and an assault ghost gun rifle.
The charge of first-degree human trafficking (receiving anything of value as an organizer/supervisor/financier/manager) carries a sentence of 20 years to life with a mandatory period of parole ineligibility of 20 years, and up to a $200,000 fine.
First-degree crimes carry a sentence of 10 to 20 years in state prison and a fine of up to $200,000. Second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000. Third-degree charges carry a sentence of three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.
This investigation was led by the New Jersey State Police’s Human Trafficking Unit by Detective Anthony Duncan, Detective Sergeant Mark Wettengel, and Lieutenant Ricardo Diaz. Deputy Attorneys General Amie Hyde and Robert Guarni are prosecuting the case for the Division, with assistance from Deputy Attorney General Lisa Queen, under the supervision of Deputy Chief Veronica Daddario and Bureau Chief Cassandra Montalto.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaints are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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