9 Newark Residents Charged For Roles In Alleged Drug Ring: Feds

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A group of nine Newark residents have been accused of taking part in a drug distribution ring that sold fentanyl and cocaine in an “open-air narcotics market” near the Bradley Court Housing Complex, authorities announced Thursday.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Robert Covington, 55, Korey Smith, 36, Jeffrey Workman, 53, Yvonne Jackson, 49, Carlos Stokes, 54, Karen Gamble, 50, and Alaa Covington, 21, have been charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 40 grams of fentanyl.

Prosecutors said that Robert Covington, Workman, Williamson, Stokes, and Gamble are also charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine.

Smith is additionally charged, along with Leroy Baxter III, 55, and William Lane, 57, with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, authorities said.

Eight of the defendants have a virtual court appearance scheduled for Thursday afternoon. Stokes remains at large, prosecutors said.

Federal prosecutors released a statement detailing the allegations:

“From August 2020 through March 2021, multiple individuals were involved in selling fentanyl and cocaine in an open-air narcotics market in Bradley Court Housing Complex in Newark. These individuals comprise at least two separate drug-trafficking organizations (DTOs), which have overlapping membership. DTO-1 involved individuals engaged in the distribution of fentanyl and included Robert Covington, Smith, Williamson, Gamble, Workman, Stokes, and Alla Covington. DTO-2 involved individuals engaged in the distribution of cocaine and included Robert Covington, Williamson, Gamble, Workman, and Stokes.”

Prosecutors continued:

“The investigation revealed that Robert Covington was one of the leaders and organizers of DTO-1’s and DTO-2’s distribution of fentanyl and cocaine in or around Bradley Court. Covington purchased powder cocaine and fentanyl from various sources, including Smith; ‘cooked’ powder cocaine into crack-cocaine or directed others to do so; used various ‘stash houses’ to store and distribute fentanyl and cocaine and to store narcotics proceeds; and employed multiple drug dealers, including Workman, Williamson, Stokes and Alaa Covington, among others, to distribute fentanyl and cocaine to the area surrounding Bradley Court.”

Prosecutors alleged:

“Smith – the fentanyl supplier for DTO-1 – was also engaged in distributing heroin in and around his residence on Fairmount Avenue in Newark from at least January 2021 to the present, along with Baxter, Lane and others.”

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