24 Reputed Bloods and Associates Indicted for Involvement in Drug Ring

Essex County First Assistant Prosecutor Carolyn Murray announced on Friday that two dozen reputed gang members and their associates were indicted by an Essex County grand jury for their involvement in a drug ring.

Stephon Johnson, 35, of Newark, faces 31 of the drug and weapons charges in the 61-count indictment and was the primary target of the investigation. Detectives engaging in undercover drug transactions with Johnson were able to develop evidence against the other defendants, who were operating in Newark, Orange, South Orange, Irvington and Elizabeth. The investigation, dubbed was a multi-agency operation between the Essex County Prosecutor’s Gang and Narcotics VIPER Unit, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, Newark Police, Orange Police, South Orange Police and Maplewood Police.

Initiated in August 2008, the long-term investigation traced an elaborate cocaine and heroin distribution operation that sold drugs to gang members and associates in Newark, Orange, South Orange, Irvington and Elizabeth, said Thomas Fennelly, director of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office’s VIPER Unit. It's estimated that the distribution ring sold several hundred grams of cocaine and approximately 100 bricks of heroin per week.

In all, 24 members of the Bloods and associates were arrested and charged. Most of the upper level targets were charged with first-degree distribution and possession of controlled substances and second-degree conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Some of the suspects were armed with loaded semi-automatic handguns at the time of their arrests and were charged accordingly. Armed with search warrants, detectives seized more than 500 grams of cocaine and 100 grams of heroin. In addition, three loaded semi-automatic handguns, three vehicles and approximately $60,000 in cash were recovered.

Based on intelligence developed by the Essex County Prosecutor’s VIPER Unit, an undercover operation was established at several locations in Newark, including outside The Hood Barbershop, located at 470 Washington St., Newark; 96 Quitman St., Newark; 169 Ivy St., Newark; 2-12 Hillside Ave., Newark; 891 Bergen St., Newark; and 400 Highland Terrace, Orange.

According to Paul Loriquet, a spokesman for the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, none of those indicted lived in South Orange.