Newark Man Naiem Moore Pleads Guilty to Gun, Cocaine, Heroin Crimes

Newark Man Admits to Gun, Cocaine, Heroin Crimes

A 34-year-old Essex County man has pleaded guilty to gun, cocaine, and heroin charges after a violent crime investigation in Newark, New Jersey.

Naiem Moore, 34, of Newark, pleaded guilty to two counts of being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in U.S. District Court in Newark.

According to court documents, Moore was found with glassine envelopes containing heroin, jugs containing cocaine, and a loaded firearm during a traffic stop on January 14, 2021. On September 28, 2020, Moore used the same firearm in a shooting and attempted assault.

Moore faces a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison for the narcotics offense, 10 years in prison for each of the firearm charges, and a mandatory minimum of five years for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Sentencing is set for December 18, 2024.

The investigation was led by the Newark Police Division, the FBI, and the Bloomfield Police Department as part of the Newark Violent Crimes Initiative (VCI), a partnership between law enforcement agencies to combat violent crime in and around Newark.

U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger praised the efforts of the investigating agencies, saying, ‘The VCI is a crucial tool in our fight against violent crime in Newark and surrounding communities.’

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney DeNae Thomas of the Health Care Fraud Unit.