Camden County murder suspect convicted on federal drug charges

By Darran Simon, Inquirer Staff Writer
Posted: January 10, 2013

A Camden County murder suspect out on bail admitted in federal court on Wednesday that he tried to buy more than 28 pounds of cocaine that he intended to distribute in New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Jamal Herrin, 40, who authorities said lives in Clementon, also admitted to rounding up more than $325,000 to buy the 13 kilograms of cocaine.

He pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez in Camden to one count of knowingly and intentionally conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, authorities said.

The street value of a kilogram of cocaine is around $32,000, according to a law enforcement official familiar with drug investigations.

The investigation started in April when the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration learned that Herrin was interested in buying large quantities of cocaine, authorities said.

On Dec. 31, 2011, Herrin, then listed as living in Sicklerville, allegedly fatally shot Terrance Barnum, 40, also of Sicklerville, around 6 p.m. at the Old Nostalgia Barber Shop during an altercation. Herrin was arrested on Jan. 3, 2012, at a Hampton Inn in Logan Township.

He faces between 10 years and life in prison and a $10 million fine on the drug charges. The government said it also would seek to retain through forfeiture nearly $340,000 in cash recovered from him. He is held with bail set at $1 million.

Sentencing is scheduled for April 15.

Contact Darran Simon at 856-779-3829, dsimon@phillynews.com, or follow on Twitter @darransimon.

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