Malik Derry, Heroin Trafficking, New Jersey 2023

CAMDEN, N.J. - In a major blow to Atlantic City's underworld, Malik Derry, a 25-year-old enforcer and street-level dealer for the notorious 'Dirty Block' gang, has been sentenced to life in prison for his role in a heroin trafficking conspiracy.

Derry, also known as 'Lik,' was convicted of conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, possessing and discharging firearms in furtherance of the conspiracy, and using a communications device in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Noel L. Hillman on [no specific date mentioned] in Camden federal court.

According to documents filed in the case and evidence presented at trial, Malik Derry was an integral member of the 'Dirty Block' gang, led by his brother Mykal Derry, a/k/a 'Koose,' 36, of Atlantic City. The gang used violence, intimidation, and force to control the lucrative drug trade in the Stanley Holmes public housing complex, Brown's Park, and the surrounding area.

The evidence showed that Malik Derry, Mykal Derry, enforcer Shaamel Spencer, 32, of Atlantic City, and other gang members carried loaded handguns and engaged in at least eight drug-related shootings between October 2010 and February 2013, including the shooting of a teenager on April 17, 2011, which left the teenager paralyzed.

In a particularly heinous incident, Mykal Derry and Malik Derry planned and carried out the shooting murder of a rival drug dealer in Atlantic City on the evening of Feb. 10, 2013. Mykal Derry ordered his gang members to 'put him down' when they saw the victim, and Malik Derry shot the victim in the head from close range while riding a bicycle past him.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Hillman sentenced Malik Derry to serve a term of 10 years of supervised release. Mykal Derry was previously sentenced to life in prison on January 7, 2016, for his role in the same conspiracy.

U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman credited special agents of the FBI's Newark Division, Atlantic City Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Diane M. Ruberton, and the Atlantic City Police Department for their work in bringing the case to justice.

The evidence presented by the government at trial consisted of recordings of hundreds of telephone calls and text messages between Mykal Derry, Malik Derry, and over 19 other members of the gang, physical evidence including the recovery of twenty firearms, ballistics evidence from shooting scenes, crime scene evidence from eight different shooting scenes in Atlantic City, recovery of substantial quantities of heroin and drug packaging materials, approximately $40,000 in drug proceeds, and the testimony of dozens of FBI agents and Atlantic City police detectives, ballistics experts, a narcotics expert, and two cooperating witnesses who had previously pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking offenses.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/enforcer-atlantic-city-dirty-block-gang-sentenced-life-prison-role-heroin-trafficking