A brazen armed carjacking in 2012 sparked a massive investigation that uncovered a far-reaching conspiracy to smuggle contraband into the Essex County Correctional Facility. Quasim Nichols, 30, of Newark, has pleaded guilty to his role in the armed carjacking and the subsequent bribery scheme.
The crime unfolded on May 28, 2012, when Nichols and three others, including a corrections officer, targeted a 2005 BMW 645 in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The group pointed handguns at the vehicle’s occupants and made off with the car, striking another vehicle in the process and causing serious injury.
While behind bars at the Essex County Correctional Facility on the armed carjacking charge, Nichols conspired with Corrections Officer Stephon Solomon, 27, of Irvington, to bribe him into smuggling contraband, including marijuana and cell phones, into the facility. The scheme involved Solomon, Dwayne Harper, 31, of Newark, and Darsell Davis, 29, of Newark, who collected cash bribes and delivered the contraband to Nichols.
Nichols, who was being held without bail, sold the marijuana and cell phones to other inmates, who paid for the items using Western Union money transfers. Davis obtained at least $4,300 in payments for Nichols. Solomon pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit extortion and is scheduled to be sentenced next month, while Davis and Harper are awaiting sentencing.
The case highlights the brazen nature of corruption within the correctional system and the devastating impact it has on law-abiding citizens. U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman credited the FBI and the Internal Affairs Division of the Essex County Correctional Facility for their role in uncovering the conspiracy.
Nichols faces up to 25 years in prison for the armed carjacking charge and up to 20 years for the conspiracy charge. He has agreed to forfeit $4,300 in proceeds from the contraband smuggling scheme and is scheduled to be sentenced in May.
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Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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