East Orange Dealer Gets 10 Years for Fentanyl, Firearm

NEWARK, N.J. – Ibraheem Muhammad, a 41-year-old resident of East Orange, New Jersey, is headed for a decade in federal prison after a damning bust revealed a substantial drug trafficking operation fueled by fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine. U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced the sentencing on July 24, 2025, following Muhammad’s guilty plea.

Muhammad received a 120-month sentence from U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti. The charges stemmed from an indictment alleging one count of possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon, one count of possessing with intent to distribute controlled substances, and a further charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime. This isn’t a plea bargain; this is a reckoning for peddling poison in our communities.

The investigation, detailed in court documents, focused on Muhammad’s activities originating from an apartment in East Orange – now known as the “Residence.” On May 9, 2022, law enforcement moved in after observing Muhammad allegedly conducting a drug deal. He was caught red-handed with multiple envelopes of suspected heroin and the keys to the Residence. The subsequent raid uncovered a stash of heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl, alongside the tools of the trade – glassine envelopes and packaging materials.

But the drugs weren’t the only thing hidden within those walls. Authorities also seized approximately $14,000 in cash, a loaded Girsan 9mm semi-automatic handgun containing fourteen 9mm rounds, and an additional fifteen rounds of ammunition. This wasn’t just about moving product; it was about arming himself to protect his illicit enterprise. The combination of drugs and firearms is a recipe for disaster, and Muhammad is paying the price.

The sentencing isn’t just about locking up a dealer. Judge Martinotti added a three-year term of supervised release to Muhammad’s prison sentence, ensuring continued monitoring after his release. This case was a collaborative effort, spearheaded by special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks Jr., and the East Orange Police Department, led by Public Safety Director Maurice Boyd.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Farhana C. Melo and Aja Espinosa of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark successfully prosecuted the case. Defense counsel Jacqueline Cistaro, Esq, of New York, NY, represented Muhammad. The streets of East Orange are a little safer today, but the fight against the flow of deadly drugs and illegal firearms is far from over. This conviction sends a clear message: those who profit from misery will face the full force of the law.

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