⏱ 2 min read
Rahameen Newkirk, a 46-year-old Paterson, New Jersey man, has been sentenced to 96 months in prison for his role in trafficking drugs and firearms. On July 15, 2026, Newkirk pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession, distributing and possessing with intent to distribute cocaine base, and distributing and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl. The crimes occurred in 2020 and 2021, as part of a lengthy investigation into the illegal trafficking of firearms and narcotics in Paterson.
Undercover law enforcement purchased three AR-style rifles, as well as fentanyl and cocaine base from Newkirk, who made thousands of dollars from this illegal activity. Newkirk’s prior state convictions for distribution of controlled substances qualified him to be sentenced as a ‘career offender’ under the United States Sentencing Guidelines, significantly increasing his sentencing exposure.
In addition to the prison term, Newkirk was sentenced to three years of supervised release. The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence.
The FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark and Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs in Philadelphia, played a key role in the investigation. U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer thanked the special agents for their work on the case.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Drug Trafficking
- Defendant: New Jersey
- Location: NJ
- Source: DOJ Press Release
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Drug TraffickingDrug TraffickingDrug TraffickingDrug Trafficking