Fentanyl, Heroin, and Crack Flooded Bradley Court Until Feds and Local Law Enforcement Stepped In
In a major crackdown on drug trafficking in Newark, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba today announced charges against twenty-four individuals for their alleged roles in a large-scale drug distribution network that has been saturating the Bradley Court Housing Complex with deadly fentanyl, heroin, and crack cocaine.
The sweeping arrests are the culmination of a 14-month intensive investigation led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in close collaboration with the Newark Police Department.
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“For far too long, the Bloods have overtaken the Bradley Court Housing Complex — turning its courtyards and residential buildings into a hub for pumping deadly fentanyl into the city of Newark, while endangering the lives of the citizens who call this community home,” stated U.S. Attorney Habba. “This poison has ripped families apart and stolen countless lives. That stops today.”
The charged individuals are allegedly members or associates of Sex, Money, Murder (SMM), a notorious Blood-affiliated street gang that has reportedly controlled the drug trade in the Bradley Court area, also known as Munn Block, M-Blok, and Tombstone Gang. This group is closely aligned with another Blood-affiliated gang called Voorhees, forming an alliance referred to as “MunnHees.”
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Authorities revealed that the Enterprise brazenly used social media platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter), along with messaging apps like Signal, Telegram, and WhatsApp, to conduct their illicit business, communicate, and promote their activities. This included the alarming use of drill rap songs and music videos to intimidate rivals, witnesses, and the community.
Among the two dozen charged are individuals with aliases such as “Hitta,” “Lando,” “Gu,” “Weeze,” and “Spaz.” All 24 face one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine.
In addition to the drug conspiracy charges, Shamon Freshley, Orlando Pizarro, Zakir Jefferson, Quayyon Johnson, Melvin Faines, Afrika Islam, Shaheem Webb, Eustace Weeks, Ali Baker, Jose Ward, Brandon Sneed, Eric Banks, Tauheed Carney, Tykee Stokes, Shafeek Barker, Ibn Perry, Alvin Jones, Kirk Mansook, Tyjanique Green, Jubar Hughes, Daisean Williams, Jason Wardlaw, and Rana James, all from Essex County, New Jersey, are among those facing the drug conspiracy charge.
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Sebastian Pierrecent, a.k.a. “Sosa,” Quayyan Johnson, and Tauheed Carney are also individually charged with possession of a machinegun. Pierrecent faces an additional charge of possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon. These charges stem from a June 17, 2025 shooting in rival gang territory near Mapes Avenue.
The drug conspiracy charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, with a potential maximum of life in prison and a $10 million fine. Those charged with machinegun possession face up to 10 years, while Pierrecent could face up to 15 years for the felon in possession charge.
Most of the arrested defendants are scheduled to make their initial court appearances this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacey D. Adams in Newark federal court. While some defendants were already in custody on other charges, five remain at large.
This extensive investigation was conducted as part of the Newark Violent Crime Initiative (VCI), a partnership formed in 2017 by federal, state, county, and city agencies to combat violent crime in Newark. U.S. Attorney Habba lauded the collaborative efforts of numerous law enforcement agencies, including HSI, Newark PD, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Marshals Service, FBI, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, East Orange Police Department, Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, and the New Jersey State Police.
“These arrests affirm my office’s commitment to taking guns and drugs off the streets, and serves as a clear warning to anyone who considers engaging in violent activity,” Habba emphasized. “Everyone should understand that if you spread this poison or engage in this violent activity, we will use every resource necessary to find you, dismantle your operation, and prosecute you.”
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