Camden drug kingpin gets two decades behind bars

Former cocaine kingpin Raymond Morales was sentenced to 21 years in federal prison Thursday for running a multi-million dollar drug ring in Camden that killed those who threatened the organization.

Morales, 37, admitted his role in six slayings, including the murder of an innocent man mistaken for a rival drug dealer. He agreed to cooperate with authorities, entered the witness protection program and avoided a possible death sentence.

U.S. District Judge Joseph E. Irenas, who had sole discretion for sentencing, considered Morales' cooperation after his 2003 arrest, which led to 24 convictions.

Irenas said Morales' cooperation was "truly unusual," but it had to be weighed against Morales' decision to become rich dealing drugs.

Morales, a drug dealer since 13, was charged with drug conspiracy, murder and witness tampering.

Most of those charged with being part of his drug ring entered plea agreements with federal prosecutors. Four others, including a hit man for the organization, Juan "Two Face" Rivera Velez, were convicted at two trials in which Morales appeared as the key witness.

Morales was known as the "Rainman" because he could flood dealers with so much cocaine at any time, and his organization flourished from 1992 until 2004. Toward the end, Morales worked with federal investigators setting up those who had worked at his direction spreading hundreds of kilos throughout Camden.

The drug ring was so large it once provided drugs to the city's largest operation, known as the Alley. Federal authorities brought down that organization a decade ago, which led to a corruption conviction of former Camden mayor Milton Milan.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Diana Carrig acknowledged the impact Morales' cooperation had on the case, calling it extraordinary. Although Carrig did not make a sentencing recommendation, she asked for a "just" sentence.

Defense attorney Jeffrey Zucker suggested a 10-year sentence, citing the high level of cooperation, which he said is unmatched in criminal cases he has seen.

"This is an individual who not only cooperated, but has true remorse," Zucker said.

If not for the cooperation, the judge said, the sentencing would have been a 10-minute hearing imposing life.

Contact staff writer Barbara Boyer at 856-779-3838 or bboyer@phillynews.com.