Atlantic City Man Faces 5 Years Without Parole in Gun, Drug Case

Mays Landing, N.J. — An Atlantic City man has pleaded guilty to gun and drug charges after admitting to officers that his fanny pack contained a gun and drugs.

27-year-old Ezekiel Harper entered his plea Wednesday. An agreement calls for five years in state prison without parole.

The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said on July 9th of this year, Atlantic City Police identified Harper as a person of interest and tracked him via surveillance to the Howard Johnson Hotel.

Officers found him in the lobby and received consent to search his hotel room, where they also searched a fanny pack they had previously observed him wearing.

Before the search, Harper told officers there were drugs and a gun inside the fanny pack. Officers found a revolver and multiple wax folds.

Lab analysis confirmed the folds contained fentanyl and carfentanil.

Harper pleaded guilty to second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm by a certain person not to possess weapons or ammunition and third-degree possession of CDS with intent to distribute.

Sentencing is scheduled for December 15th.

Chris Coleman is a South Jersey native and has been a cornerstone of the Atlantic City radio market since 1998. He serves as Brand Manager for WPG Talk Radio 95.5 and afternoon on-air personality for Cat Country 107.3. A five-time President's Circle award winner and Townsquare Media's 2024 Content Creator of the Year, Chris covers news, events, and stories of interest across Southern New Jersey. Story tips: chris.coleman@townsquaremedia.com