Twenty-four individuals associated with a Jersey City street gang have been charged with various gang-related offenses, including conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine, Hobbs Act robbery, and the use of firearms in furtherance of violent crimes.
The defendants were set to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark III in Newark federal court, according to an announcement made by U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger on Thursday, May 30, 2024.
Four defendants remain at large.
“Street gangs engaged in violence and narcotics distribution drastically diminish the quality of life for those who live in affected communities,” said Sellinger. “The charges in this case demonstrate our commitment to rooting out gang-related criminality to make our communities safer.”
The arrests were part of a collaborative effort involving federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Ross A. Marchetti emphasized the importance of crime gun intelligence in disrupting the cycle of gun violence, highlighting the commitment to addressing violent gang and drug-related activity.
Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez underscored the significance of cooperative law enforcement efforts in ensuring community safety. “By working closely with our partners, we are expanding and sharing resources to hold those who commit crimes accountable,” she stated.
Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan of the IRS Criminal Investigation Newark Field Office and Christopher Nielsen, Inspector in Charge of the Philadelphia Division for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, also highlighted the role of interagency collaboration in dismantling the criminal network.
The defendants are members and associates of the Booker T. street gang, which operates in the Booker T. Washington Housing Complex in Jersey City. The gang has been involved in multiple acts of violence, including homicides and shootings, and runs a drug trafficking operation distributing heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine. Eleven members and associates are charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, while fifteen are charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
From December 2022 to May 2024, members and associates of the gang engaged in a fraudulent check scheme, resulting in losses exceeding $100,000. Additionally, two individuals, Juan Hemingway (aka “Hort”) and Stephon Murphy (aka “Turk”), are charged with Hobbs Act robbery and the unlawful use of a firearm in connection with a robbery on May 6, 2024.
Sellinger credited the investigation to the collaborative efforts of the ATF, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, the IRS, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Jersey City Police Department, among other agencies. The case is part of the Jersey City Violent Crime Initiative (VCI), a partnership formed in 2018 to combat violent crime in Jersey City through resource sharing and collaborative prosecution efforts.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys George Barchini and Christopher Fell of the OCDETF/Narcotics Unit.
The charges against the defendants are allegations, and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.