They were advertising on social media, employing a juvenile
Editor’s note: The information in this story is from the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.
MAYS LANDING – Donna Shiffler, 40, of Somers Point, pleaded guilty April 30 before the Honorable Donna M. Taylor, J.S.C. to first-degree employing a juvenile, first-degree possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, first-degree maintaining a production facility, and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child.
Shiffler is expected to be sentenced in the second-degree range to an aggregate term of five years in New Jersey State Prison, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.
Her boyfriend, John Garman, 39, also of Somers Point, pleaded before Judge Taylor on March 18 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, and second-degree money laundering. 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, according to the Prosecutor’s Office, which said the 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, the Prosecutor’s Office stated. 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 U.S. 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.
On May 25, 2023, police arrested Garman and Shiffler. Police also executed a search warrant at the apartment where they lived with their three minor children, ages 14, 12, and seven years old. Inside the residence police located approximately $119,000.00 in U.S currency, marijuana in a quantity over 62 pounds, hashish, THC edible products and cartridges, with an approximate net weight of 42 pounds, and psilocybin mushrooms in a quantity of approximately two pounds. Also located
inside the residence was a security camera and security system pointed at the front door of the residence and utilized to monitor the residence. Police also located materials commonly used to prepare and package narcotics for sale at street level, including: a label maker, labels, empty baggies, empty jars, rubber bands, and scales. Police also seized business cards for “Garmans Goods,” with Garman’s bit Mogi & phone number that said, “Somers Point Cannabis Service,” according to the Prosecutor’s Office.
This evidence was primarily located in the master bedroom and in a closet under the stairwell. Inside the vehicles, which were operated by Garman during the course of the investigation and registered to Shiffler, police located U.S. currency, brass knuckles, approximately two pounds of
marijuana, THC edible products, and vape cartridges. Inside the bedroom of Garman and Shiffler’s 14-year-old son police located Garman’s business cards, U.S. currency, and THC edible products, consistent in appearance to what Garman sold to the undercover detective. The Prosecutor’s Office said further cell phone evidence showed a conspiracy between Garman, Shiffler, and their 14-year-old son, to distribute and manufacture narcotics.
This 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.
Garman is scheduled for sentencing on May 20. Sentencing for Shiffler is scheduled for July 9.
Assistant Prosecutor Deirdre Laws represents the State in the matter.