N.J. Man Allegedly Used Twitter To Sell Guns, Authorities Say

Authorities have arrested an Essex County man for allegedly using Twitter to sell guns in connection with gang activity.

On Friday, an Essex County Grand Jury returned a 24-count indictment charging Bomani Duncan, 19, of Bloomfield, with robbery, promoting gang activity and selling drugs and handguns.

According to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the indictment alleges that since Feb. 18, Duncan has conspired with others in the “G-Shine” set of the Bloods street gang to recruit new members and sell guns “in furtherance of a dispute with rival gangs,” in some instances using social media to communicate.

According to prosecutors, from Feb. 22 to March 8, Duncan allegedly possessed a .32 caliber Smith & Wesson revolver that was displayed in social media posts, and which authorities suspect may be the weapon used in a March robbery in East Orange.

In March, Duncan also allegedly attempted to sell guns to other Twitter users, as well as Shabazz, authorities charge.

On Sept. 28, Duncan was arrested in East Orange on unrelated weapons and drug charges.

Authorities charged Duncan with one count of robbery, one count of gang criminality, two counts of witness tampering, including bribery of a witness, one count of leading a firearms trafficking network, one count of promoting organized street crime, one count of weapons training for an unlawful purpose and eight counts of gun trafficking, including selling to a person under the age of 21.

Authorities also charged Taquan Williams, 19, and Yasin Shabazz, 18, both of East Orange, in connection with the above charges.

Williams was charged in seven counts, including conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery, multiple weapons offenses and possession of prescription pills with intent to distribute.

Shabazz is charged in two counts, including attempting to buy a gun from Duncan without a valid purchaser’s permit and attempting to sell a handgun to Duncan on Twitter.