Somerset Man Sentenced After Slew Of Drugs, Guns Found Inside Stopped Car On Route 1

SOMERSET, NJ — A Somerset County man was sentenced to 25 years in prison for drug trafficking and possession of firearms after he was found unresponsive inside a stopped car in the middle of Route 1 in 2021, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer said.

Malachi A. Muhammad, 51, of Somerset, was previously convicted on April 11, 2025, of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl and heroin, and cocaine, possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and unlawful possession of firearms by a convicted felon.

On Tuesday, Muhammad was sentenced to 300-months in prison.

On Aug. 19, 2021, Lawrence Township Police Officers responded to calls from concerned citizens about a car stopped in the middle of Route 1 near the Quaker Bridge Mall.

Muhammad, the only person inside and driver of the car, was found unresponsive and police believed that he was asleep or having a medical emergency, according to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial.

Officers woke him up, and then reportedly saw the handle of a handgun in between his legs.

Officers took the loaded handgun and Muhammad out of the vehicle and arrested him.

In the vehicle, officers found 91 pills of methamphetamine, 468 wax folds of fentanyl and heroin, 5 bags of cocaine, and five additional firearms, including two semi-automatic rifles, and more than 150 rounds of ammunition.

In addition to the prison term, the judge imposed three years of supervised release after Muhammad's prison sentence.

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