Shelton Archer (Atlantic County Justice Facility)
An Atlantic City man faces four years in prison after admitting to five drug cases spanning more than two years.
Shelton Archer, who turned 22 in jail this month, pleaded guilty this week to five counts, including three third-degree drug distribution charges and fourth-degree joyriding.
He was 19 years old when he was first arrested Sept. 2, 2023, after fleeing from an Atlantic City car stop,.
He was apprehended a short time later, and found with 143 wax folds of a heroin-fentanyl mix. Archer was briefly jailed on a warrant, and then released.
He had 48 wax folds of heroin-fentanyl Dec. 27, 2024, when Atlantic City police arrested him again. This time he was released on a summons, court records show.
Less than five months later, a traffic stop led to a K-9 sniff of the vehicle Archer was driving May 6, 2025.
The dog’s positive indication led to more heroin-fentanyl, along with marijuana and mushrooms. He was again released on a summons.
Two months later, he was stopped when police saw the vehicle he was a passenger in had been reported stolen.
Archer admitted during his plea that he knew the vehicle he was riding in July 17, 2025 was stolen.
He has been jailed since his last arrest Dec. 6, when Archer was found asleep in the driver’s seat of an idling vehicle in Atlantic City.
Officers saw a wax fold in plain view, leading to a search that found a total of 206 wax folds containing a mixture of heroin and fentanyl.
Archer admitted during his plea that he intended to distribute all of the drugs that were found during his arrests.
He faces a four-year term when he is sentenced June. 12.