Newark Heroin Trafficking Leader Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison

NEWARK, N.J. – Keith Herd, 33, of Newark, was sentenced to 240 months in prison for his role as the leader of a heroin trafficking conspiracy in Newark, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.

Herd previously pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton to a third superseding indictment charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and distribution of and possession with intent to distribute heroin.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, Herd was the leader of a drug trafficking organization that dealt heroin and crack cocaine in and around Newark, specifically around Hayes Street and 14th Avenue in the area of the New Community Corporation community development (NCC).

The organization was comprised of members of the Brick City Brim set of the Bloods street gang. The investigation revealed that in addition to selling drugs, members of the organization alerted each other to police presence and the presence of rival gang members or drug dealers within NCC.

The members also shared narcotics supply, narcotics proceeds, and customers, and raised bail money for each other following their numerous arrests. Members of the organization have also engaged in violence and been the subjects of violent crime in connection with their narcotics trafficking activities.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Wigenton sentenced Herd to five years of supervised release. Herd’s sentence is a result of his role as the leader of the heroin trafficking organization that endangered the safety of the community.

Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr. in Newark, and members of the Newark Department of Public Safety, under the direction of Public Safety Director Brian O’Hara, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.

The case was investigated as part of the Violent Crime Initiative (VCI). The VCI was formed in August 2017 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, and the City of Newark’s Department of Public Safety for the purpose of combatting violent crime in and around Newark.

Defendant/Respondent: Keith Herd. Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and distribution of and possession with intent to distribute heroin. City and State: Newark, New Jersey. Date: Today. Sentence: 240 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release.

MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS

Drug Trafficking

Michael Bell, Methamphetamine Distribution, Illinois 2022

Nov 22, 2022

Drug Trafficking

Jimmy King, Jermaine King, Mahmud Sheppard, Methamphetamine Trafficking, California 2024

Apr 3, 2026

Drug Trafficking

Matthew Wilhelm, Possession with Intent to Distribute Meth, South Dakota 2016

Jan 29, 2016

Drug Trafficking

Lino Cueto Montilla, Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises, Virginia 2024

Apr 26, 2024