Atlantic County, NJ Prosecutor: Somers Point, 1st Degree Drug Ple

The Atlantic County, New Jersey Prosecutor’s Office has confirmed that a Somers Point couple has pleaded guilty before the Honorable New Jersey Superior Court Judge Donna M. Taylor, J.S.C.

Donna Shiffler, 40, of Somers Point pleaded guilty to the following:

first-degree employing a juvenile.
first-degree possession with the intent to distribute marijuana.
first-degree maintaining a production facility.
second-degree endangering the welfare of a child.

The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office said that “Shiffler is expected to be sentenced in the second-degree range to an aggregate term of five years in New Jersey State Prison.”

Shiffler’s boyfriend, John Garman, 39, of Somers Point, pleaded before Judge Taylor on March 18, 2024, to:

first-degree employing a juvenile.
first-degree possession with the intent to distribute marijuana.
first-degree maintaining a production facility.
second-degree conspiracy to possess marijuana with the intent to distribute.
second-degree endangering the welfare of a child.
second-degree money laundering.

The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office achieved that “Both pleas were contingent on the other person resolving the matter. Garman is expected to be sentenced to an aggregate term of 10 years in New Jersey State Prison.”

About the investigation, the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office said:

This case resulted from a narcotics investigation into John Garman's drug distribution activities. The investigation began in March of 2023 in response to public health and safety concerns. Garman promoted his drug distribution business, "Garmans Goods," by advertising publicly on social media and placing jars of marijuana at various public locations in Somers Point. Following that, surveillance identified patterns in which Garman appeared to engage in behavior consistent with narcotics distribution on a daily basis in Somers Point. During the months of April and May 2023, Garman sold marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms and THC edible products directly to an undercover police detective in exchange for US currency at the Ocean Heights Shopping Plaza in Somers Point. Garman advised the undercover officer that with the summer months approaching, he would have his own 14-year-old son distribute his business cards on the boardwalk, said the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.

The ACPO confirmed that on May 25, 2023, police arrested Garman and Shiffler.

A search warrant was executed at the apartment where they lived with their three minor children, ages 14, 12, and seven years old.

Police found:

approximately $119,000.00 in US currency.
marijuana in a quantity over 62 Ibs.
hashish.
THC.
edible products and cartridges, with an approximate net weight of 42 pounds.
psilocybin mushrooms in a quantity of approximately two pounds.

The multi-jurisdictional investigation was led by the Liberty Mid-Atlantic HIDTA Task Force … with the assistance of the DEA … the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office's Gangs, Guns, & Narcotics Unit … and the Somers Point Police Department.

SOURCE: Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.