Bloods Gang Members Charged in Firearms, Narcotics Bust

NEWARK, N.J. – Three members of the 135 Piru set of the Bloods street gang have been charged with firearms and narcotics offenses in Essex County, New Jersey, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.

The three men, Myron Fulton, Joshua Baltimore, and Azmar Carter, are each charged with distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Carter is also charged with distribution of and possession with intent to distribute heroin.

According to documents filed in the case, the 135 Piru set operates primarily around Orange and distributes a large quantity of narcotics throughout Essex County. Baltimore, Carter, and Fulton are self-admitted members of the 135 Piru set. Law enforcement executed a search warrant on Fulton’s car on June 30, 2021, and recovered a firearm and a high-capacity magazine containing 33 rounds of ammunition.

During lawful searches of their respective residences and cars on August 18, 2021, law enforcement officers recovered a loaded 9 millimeter pistol, a loaded .40 caliber pistol, a Draco AK 47 pistol, 48 rounds of associated ammunition, a loaded Smith and Wesson AR pistol, 27 rounds of associated ammunition, 479 grams of suspected heroin, 16.4 grams of suspected cocaine base, and $18,632.

The maximum potential penalty for the count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition is 10 years in prison, while the narcotics counts carry a statutory mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison, and a fine of $2 million. The counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carry a statutory mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, which must run consecutively to any other sentence imposed, and a maximum potential penalty of life in prison.

Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey L. Matthews, with the investigation leading to the charges. This case is part of Operation Orange, a Violent Crime Initiative (VCI) formed in August 2017 to combat violent crime in and around Newark.

As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate and pool resources to prosecute violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community. The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the DEA, the U.S. Marshals, the Newark Police Department, and other agencies.

Fulton, 29, of East Orange, is charged by complaint with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. He appeared by videoconference today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer and was released on $100,000 bond. Carter and Baltimore appeared by videoconference on Aug. 18, 2021, before Judge Hammer and were detained.

The Violent Crime Initiative is a collaborative effort between federal, state, county, and city agencies to combat violent crime in and around Newark. As part of this partnership, agencies pool resources to prosecute violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community. This case is a prime example of the effectiveness of the VCI in taking violent offenders off the streets and making Essex County safer for all residents.

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