NEWARK, NJ – A major fentanyl trafficking ring operating in Union County, New Jersey, has been dismantled with the arrest of eight men, federal authorities announced today. The operation allegedly flooded the streets with enough fentanyl to kill thousands, according to investigators.
Charged in the superseding complaint are Lance Baker, 54, of Perth Amboy, New Jersey; Rooks Crawford, 57, of Linden, New Jersey; Derrick Gilliam, 48, of Alburtis, Pennsylvania; Abinader Liriano-Balbuena, 37, of Bronx, New York; Michael Williams, 54, of Roselle, New Jersey; Tyrone Gilliam, 60, Lewis Martinez-Berroa, 38, and Earl Riley, 58, all of Elizabeth, New Jersey. Each defendant faces one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, a charge that carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million.
The investigation, spanning from July 2022 to March 2023, revealed a network of narcotics transactions meticulously documented by law enforcement. Authorities seized over 9,000 individual doses of fentanyl linked to the organization. Martinez-Berroa, Tyrone Gilliam, and Derrick Gilliam were identified as the primary suppliers, funneling the deadly drug into the network.
The bust culminated in a series of coordinated searches on March 21, 2023. A raid on a location in the Bronx uncovered a full-blown narcotics “mill” – a facility dedicated to manufacturing and packaging fentanyl. Approximately 10 kilograms of a substance believed to be fentanyl was recovered at the site, representing a substantial blow to the supply chain.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger credited a multi-agency task force with the successful takedown, including special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the U.S. Secret Service, as well as numerous local police departments and prosecutor’s offices across New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The sheer number of agencies involved underscores the scale of the operation and the coordinated effort required to dismantle it.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Mezzanotte, Robert Frazer, and Christopher Fell are prosecuting the case. It’s crucial to remember that these are merely allegations at this stage. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it unfolds, bringing you the unvarnished truth from the streets to the courtroom.
Related Federal Cases
- Miguel Nuñez, Fentanyl Trafficking, New Jersey 2024 · Alaska
- Ibraheem Muhammad, Fentanyl Trafficking, N.J. 2025 · New York
- David Allen Vickers, Sex Trafficking of Minors, Buffalo NY, 2023 · New York
- Ana Maria Hernandez, Heroin Trafficking, Boston MA, 2023 · Massachusetts
- Elmostafa Charif, Designer Drug Trafficking, New Jersey 2024 · Illinois
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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