Earlja J. Dudley, Attempting to Interfere with Law Enforcement Officers During a Civil Disorder, New Jersey 2020

A Mercer County man has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for attempting to interfere with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder when he attempted to set fire to a police vehicle during a riot in Trenton, New Jersey.

Newark, N.J. – Earlja J. Dudley, 28, of Trenton, previously pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti to an information charging him with one count of attempting to obstruct, impede, or interfere with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder affecting commerce.

Judge Martinotti imposed the sentence by videoconference today.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: On May 31, 2020, large-scale protests were held throughout the United States, including in Trenton, in response to the death of George Floyd.

A group of individuals proceeded down East State Street in downtown Trenton and began to riot, smashing store fronts, looting stores, and attacking multiple marked Trenton Police Department vehicles parked on the 100 Block of East State Street.

Earlja J. Dudley, the defendant, was identified through analysis of street camera and other video footage.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Martinotti sentenced Dudley to three years of supervised release.

Dudley is the third of four individuals sentenced in connection with the protest in Trenton. Killian F. Melecio was sentenced in June 2021 to 28 months in prison and three years of supervised release; Justin D. Spry was sentenced in September 2021 to 24 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Kadeem A. Dockery previously pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.

U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, the Joint Terrorism Task Force in Newark, the Trenton Police Department, the New Jersey State Police, and the New Jersey Department of Corrections for their assistance in the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander E. Ramey and Michelle S. Gasparian.

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