Gang sold drugs near Newark housing complex, dealer convicted: feds

NEWARK, NJ — Another member of a “drug trafficking organization” that operated near a Newark housing complex has been sentenced to prison, federal authorities recently announced.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, members and associates of the Grape Street Crips gang controlled drug trafficking in and around the Oscar Miles Village housing complex in Newark from April 2021 to October 2022.

Subscribe

A year-long investigation revealed the group distributed more than a kilogram of heroin laced with fentanyl and more than 280 grams of crack cocaine. Law enforcement also seized several firearms during their investigation, prosecutors said.

On Friday, one of the defendants — Ali Carney, 46, of Newark — was sentenced to 65 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy. In addition to the prison term, he was sentenced to three years of supervised release.

Carney previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl and cocaine; and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

Carney said he sold controlled substances almost daily during the conspiracy, prosecutors added.

Carney's 11 co-defendants – Thomas Barney, Najuwan Blake-Williams, Altray Brown, Najee Carney, Tyrone Cradle, Jaquan McAllister, Ikaim McSwain, Latif Terry, Shaquan Ward, Taji Williams and Zaid Williams – had previously pleaded guilty in the case . their respective roles in the plot.

U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger credited several agencies with assisting in the investigation, including the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the New Jersey State Police, the U.S. Marshal Service, the Essex County Sheriff's Office and the Newark Police Department.

Send local news tips and correction requests to [email protected]. Learn how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.