CAMDEN, NJ — An Atlanta man has pleaded guilty to federal charges after prosecutors say he distributed thousands of fentanyl pills, participated in a scheme involving stolen U.S. Treasury checks and fraudulently obtained a COVID-era relief loan.
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According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, Elvis Sonson, 51, of Atlanta pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud.
Federal prosecutors said Sonson distributed fentanyl-laced pills over several months in 2024. Court documents show Sonson admitted to selling pills in person in Camden, NJ, mailing pills to the area and directing a co-conspirator to distribute drugs on his behalf.
In total, prosecutors said Sonson admitted to distributing more than 2,000 fentanyl pills weighing more than 730 grams.
Authorities said Sonson was also involved in a separate conspiracy to sell U.S. Treasury checks stolen from the mail. Prosecutors said the scheme was designed to cash or negotiate the stolen checks through banks.
According to court records, Sonson offered to sell stolen Treasury checks worth more than $1.2 million.
Federal investigators also accused Sonson of fraudulently obtaining a $325,215 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan, a federal program created during the COVID-19 pandemic to help businesses retain workers and cover certain expenses.
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Prosecutors said Sonson submitted a false application claiming a New Jersey company he owned employed 21 workers and had a monthly payroll of more than $130,000. The application allegedly included a fake tax return.
Investigators said the business actually had no employees other than Sonson and no payroll.
The fentanyl conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The bank fraud and bank fraud conspiracy charges each carry maximum penalties of 30 years in prison. Each count also carries a maximum fine of $1 million.
Sonson is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 16.
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