2 Major NJ Heroin, Gang Operations Taken Down

NEW JERSEY – Authorities say they've taken down two major but separate drug and gang operations, one of which spanned two states.

Prosecutors say they've busted a major heroin operation that spanned New Jersey and Pennsylvania, leading to three arrests. And eight people are also going to jail as the result of an investigation into a violent set of the Bloods street gang that distributed heroin and other drugs in North Jersey.

The arrests of three people were announced on Monday as the culmination of a multi-jurisdictional investigation into a heroin drug trafficking organization that spanned New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Sabree Burke, 30, of Huntington Valley in Montgomery County, Pa.; Roderick McKinney, 24, of Trenton; and Stanley Akers, 21, of Hamilton were arrested on charges related to heroin trafficking.

Burke’s organization operated in Central Jersey and in Montgomery and Bucks Counties in Pennsylvania. At the time of their arrests, all three defendants had a significant amount of heroin and cash in their possession and in their residences, according to the Mercer County Prosecutors Office.

Burke was in possession of 130 bricks of heroin – equal to 6,500 packets – as well as a loaded .40 caliber Ruger with an obliterated serial number and $1,454 in cash, according to the MCPO.

McKinney was in possession of 71 bricks of heroin – equal to 3,550 packets – and $500 cash. Akers was in possession of 50 bricks of heroin – equal to 2,500 packets – and $3,730 in cash.

The heroin bricks, each stamped with “Louis Vuitton” in red lettering, were worth a combined street value of more than $100,000, the MCPO said.

“This investigation represents the tremendous good that can be done when law enforcement from all levels come together to work as a team,” said Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri. “We will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to stem the flow of illegal drugs into our communities.”

Burke was was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Christopher J. Cerski, who set bail at $500,000 cash. The defendant failed to make bail and was remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility. A preliminary hearing was set for 2 p.m., Nov. 26 in front of Magisterial District Judge John D. Kessler.

McKinney and Akers are being held at the Mercer County Correction Center pending detention hearings on November 20.

Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal also announced this past week that eight defendants were sentenced to prison as part of “Operation Icebox,” an investigation led by the Division of Criminal Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau and the Paterson Police Department. The New Jersey State Police and Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office provided assistance.

Operation Icebox targeted a drug trafficking network that was led by a local Bloods set known as the “So Icy Boys.” During the five-month investigation, two members of So Icy Boys were murdered, according to an Office of Attorney General release.

In addition, another gang member was wounded in a shooting involving an internal dispute between members of the gang. One defendant pleaded guilty in that non-fatal shooting. The non-fatal shooting and one of the murders occurred at 10th Avenue and 28th Street.

“In Operation Icebox, we dismantled a drug trafficking network run by a violent set of the Bloods street gang that was dealing large quantities of heroin,” said Grewal. “By putting these drug dealers behind bars, we stopped countless doses of heroin from reaching users across the region and we made residents safer by removing a criminal element that was driving gun violence in the neighborhood where they operated.”

The following defendants were sentenced this week by Superior Court Judge Sohail Mohammed in Passaic County, with the exception of Jackson, who was sentenced by Judge Mohammed on Oct. 11:

• Fabian Frater, 29, of Paterson, who controlled the day-to-day operations of the drug ring during the investigation, pleaded guilty to racketeering and was sentenced to nine years in state prison, including over 7 ½ years of parole ineligibility.

• Shadeik Stratford, 19, of Paterson pleaded guilty to attempted murder and was sentenced to 10 years in state prison, including 8 ½ years of parole ineligibility. Stratford pleaded guilty in connection with the non-fatal shooting of a fellow gang member, referenced above, on Oct. 27, 2018. The victim suffered three gunshot wounds.

• Michael Lawhorn, 28, of Paterson pleaded guilty to racketeering and was sentenced to five years in prison, including over four years of parole ineligibility.

• Karon Nevers, 25, of Paterson pleaded guilty to third degree distribution of heroin and was sentenced to five years in prison, including 3 years of parole ineligibility.

• Nhazir Briggs-Smith, 20, of Elmwood Park pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a handgun and was sentenced to five years in prison, including 3 ½ years of parole ineligibility.

• Charles Jackson, 24, of Paterson pleaded guilty to distribution of heroin within 500 feet of a public park and was sentenced to five years in prison.

• Bryant Nevers, 22, of Paterson pleaded guilty to distribution of heroin within 1,000 feet of a school and was sentenced to four years in prison, with 21 months of parole ineligibility.

• Marshea Anthony, 23, of Paterson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute narcotics and was sentenced to three years in prison.

One defendant is awaiting sentencing. Jahvon Parker, 28, of Paterson, pleaded guilty to distribution of heroin in a school zone and faces a sentence of six years in prison, including 4 ½ years without parole.