New Jersey father, teen son charged in 3 fentanyl deaths in 1 week

A New Jersey father and son from Sussex Borough have been charged in the alleged distribution of fentanyl-laced drugs to local residents — an action that reportedly resulted in three people dying within one week.

Authorities said 45-year-old Victor Johnson and his 18-year-old son, Aljauan Sanders, were originally hit with drug-related charges in early April after a victim’s phone linked drug sales to Johnson, reported the Newton New Jersey Herald.

After their apartment was searched, law enforcement discovered multiple vials of crack cocaine and 27 individually packaged doses of cocaine.

Three victims, who the father and son allegedly supplied with drugs, had overdosed on March 30, April 1, and April 4, respectively.

On June 12, autopsy results confirmed that each victim died from ingesting cocaine laced with fentanyl, after which the charges against Johnson and Sanders were escalated.

They were subsequently indicted on 11 charges, including distribution, conspiracy to distribute, and knowingly engaging in conduct that poses a substantial risk of death to another person, which are considered to be third-degree crimes.

The pair also face three counts of first-degree strict liability death, which each carry a potential of 10 to 20 years in prison.

Sanders reportedly told authorities that he and his father began selling drugs last year to help pay their bills. He claimed his father sourced the drugs from Newark, and that the victims who lost their lives were his “friends.”

Police also said the 18-year-old became “very upset and emotional” upon learning of the overdose deaths, and admitted he knew one batch of cocaine his father obtained was laced with fentanyl.

According to legal documents, lab results showed the cocaine found at their apartment also contained fentanyl.