NEWARK, N.J. – Federal authorities today unsealed charges against ten alleged members and associates of a violent street gang operating out of the Marion Gardens Housing Complex in Jersey City. The group is accused of running a prolific drug trafficking operation tied to at least three murders over the past two years, including one committed during an attempted drug robbery.
Those charged include Myron Williams, aka “Money,” aka “Tunchi,” 29, and Andre Alomar, aka “Dre8,” 21, both of Newark; and Herbert Thomas, 48; Roger Pickett, aka “Zy Gz,” 22; Anthony Rogers, aka “MG,” 22; Naim Richardson, aka “Ninicks,” 29; Quaseame Wilson, aka “Qua Gz,” 26; Javon Williams, aka “J45,” 21; Jawaad Davis, 20; and Keith Anderson, 21, all of Jersey City, New Jersey. Each defendant is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
According to federal prosecutors, the gang’s activities date back to March 2021 and have been marked by escalating violence. The November 1, 2022, murder stands out – allegedly committed during a botched attempt to rob a drug customer. Investigators say Jawaad Davis lured the victim to Marion Gardens under the guise of a narcotics transaction. Once there, Davis allegedly robbed the victim while Pickett and Wilson held them at gunpoint. Pickett then allegedly opened fire, killing the victim as his associate fled. Pickett and Wilson then fled the scene in Pickett’s vehicle.
Authorities allege Herbert Thomas served as the primary supplier of narcotics to the Marion Gardens drug trafficking organization. The investigation revealed “hundreds of narcotics transactions” taking place within and around the housing complex. The takedown is the latest move by the Jersey City Violent Crime Initiative (VCI), a multi-agency task force formed in 2018 to combat violent crime in the city. The VCI includes the U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals, Jersey City Police, and Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office.
If convicted, each defendant faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, with a maximum penalty of 40 years behind bars, and a fine of up to $5 million. The U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), along with investigators from the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office and the Jersey City and Newark Police Departments, for the investigation.
The Marion Gardens complex has long been a hotspot for criminal activity, and residents have complained for years about the unchecked violence. This bust represents a significant, though likely temporary, disruption to the gang’s operations. The VCI is vowing continued pressure on violent offenders in Jersey City, promising more arrests and prosecutions in the future.
Related Federal Cases
- Elmostafa Charif, Designer Drug Trafficking, New Jersey 2024 · Illinois
- Bridgette Williams, Identity Theft and Conspiracy, Macon GA, 2014 · Alabama
- Robert Downing, Sex Trafficking, Baltimore MD, 2023 · Florida
- David Allen Vickers, Sex Trafficking of Minors, Buffalo NY, 2023 · New York
- Danny C. Williams Sr., International Chemical Importation Scheme, T… · Nevada
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
