Gang Members Sold Drugs At Housing Complex In Newark, Feds Allege

NEWARK, NJ — Federal prosecutors announced charges on Wednesday against 24 people who were allegedly involved in a drug ring that sold fentanyl, heroin and crack at a housing complex in Newark. Several remain at large, authorities said.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the ring operated in the Bradley Court Housing Complex, which is located in the area of North Munn Avenue and Tremont Avenue.

“For over a year, law enforcement conducted extensive surveillance of the area, conducted numerous controlled purchases of narcotics, seized narcotics through enforcement action, and analyzed telephone records, all of which demonstrated extensive interactions between and among the charged defendants,” prosecutors said.

Several defendants were arrested on Wednesday. Four were already in custody on state charges, one was already in federal custody, and five remain at large, authorities said.

Prosecutors released the following list of suspects:

CONSPIRACY TO DISTRIBUTE – Shamon Freshley, 26, Orlando Pizarro, 26, Zakir Jefferson, 26, Quayyon Johnson, 22, Melvin Faines, 34, Afrika Islam, 29, Shaheem Webb, 23, Eustace Weeks, 26, Ali Baker, 34, Jose Ward, 22, Brandon Sneed, 31, Eric Banks, 19, Tauheed Carney, 21, Tykee Stokes, 32, Shafeek Barker, 28, Ibn Perry, 38, Alvin Jones, 41, Kirk Mansook, 39, Tyjanique Green, 24, Jubar Hughes, 27, Daisean Williams, 22, Jason Wardlaw, 30, and Rana James, 28 – all of Essex County – were charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, heroin and cocaine.

OTHER CHARGES – Sebastian Pierrecent, 21, Quayyan Johnson, and Tauheed Carney were also each charged with possession of a machinegun. In addition, Pierrecent was charged with possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon.

Prosecutors alleged that the accused have gang affiliations:

“The defendants are members or associates of Sex, Money, Murder (SMM), a Blood-affiliated criminal street gang that controls the drug trade in and around the Bradley Court Housing Complex (Bradley Court), among other areas. The subset of Sex, Money, Murder that operates in and around Bradley Court is also known as Munn Block, M-Blok, and Tombstone Gang “(the Enterprise”). Munn Block is closely aligned with another Blood-affiliated gang known as Voorhees, which operates in the area of Voorhees Street in Newark. Members and associates of this alliance refer to the alliance as MunnHees.’”

Prosecutors said that if convicted, the defendants face a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a $10 million fine. Pierrecent, Johnson, and Carney each face up to 10 years in prison for possession of the machinegun. Pierrecent faces up to 15 years in prison for possession of firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon.

Wednesday’s charges and arrests are the result of a 14-month investigation led by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in collaboration with the Newark Police Department.

KRETCHMER HOMES

The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced a separate major drug bust in June, accusing dozens of people of being part of a drug trafficking gang that sold large quantities of narcotics near the Kretchmer Homes housing complex along Frelinghuysen Avenue.

• See Related: Drug Gang Sold Fentanyl, Crack Near Housing Complex In Newark, Feds Allege

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