James S. Gutierrez, Crack-Cocaine Wholesaler, New Jersey 2017

Grimy Times has learned that James S. Gutierrez, a 26-year-old resident of Newark, has admitted to his involvement in a racketeering and drug trafficking conspiracy operating in Newark, New Jersey.

Gutierrez, also known as “Bad News,” pleaded guilty to Count 1 and Count 18 of a sixth superseding indictment charging him with racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute crack-cocaine. The New Jersey Grape Street Crips, a notorious gang, controlled drug trafficking and other criminal activities in various areas of Newark, including the territory around 6th Avenue and North 5th Street.

According to court documents, Gutierrez and other members of the gang accepted orders for, and distributed, thousands of clips of crack-cocaine to other distributors, including other gang members. To protect their territory, the gang employed “community guns” that were easily accessible to gang members.

Law enforcement agents seized numerous firearms during the investigation, including a .410 caliber assault rifle, a .45 caliber Thompson semi-automatic carbine, a 7.62 caliber assault rifle, and numerous semi-automatic handguns.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Gutierrez will be sentenced to between 10 years and 14 years in prison and five years of supervised release. Sentencing is scheduled for May 22, 2017.

U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman credited special agents of the DEA and the FBI with the investigation. He also thanked prosecutors and detectives of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Newark Department of Public Safety, and the Essex County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in the case.

The case was conducted under the auspices of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) and the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

Gutierrez is represented by defense counsel Edward J. Plaza Esq. of Little Silver, New Jersey.

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