Newark, N.J. – An Essex County man is behind bars after being charged with narcotics offenses and firearm possession, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig today.
Raheem Johnson, also known as Smoke, 37, of Newark, was arrested and had his initial appearance in federal court on charges stemming from his arrest for narcotics trafficking and illegally possessing a firearm.
Johnson is charged by complaint with two counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin (Counts One and Three), one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (Count Two), one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (Count Four), and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime (Count Five).
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, the investigation revealed that in April 2021 and May 2021, Johnson distributed controlled substances, including cocaine base and heroin, around Hayes Street in Newark. Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Johnson’s residence and recovered a WASR-10 7.62×39 millimeter semi-automatic rifle, 20 rounds of 7.62×39-mm ammunition, and more than two dozen bricks, or 1,200 doses, of suspected heroin.
Counts One, Two, and Three each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million. Count Four carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Count Five carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, to be served consecutively to any other sentence of imprisonment, a maximum sentence of life in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000.
Johnson was a target of the Violent Crime Initiative (VCI), a partnership between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the DEA, the U.S. Marshals, the Newark Department of Public Safety, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, N.J. State Parole, Union County Jail, N.J. State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center, N.J. Department of Corrections, the East Orange Police Department, and the Irvington Police Department.
Johnson was detained without bail and is scheduled to appear in court again. The charges and allegations contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Samantha C. Fasanello of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Violent Crimes Unit in Newark.
Newark, N.J. – On May 27, 2021, Raheem Johnson, 37, of Newark, appeared by videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark III and was detained without bail.
In this case, the exact criminal charges against Raheem Johnson are: possession with intent to distribute heroin (Counts One and Three), possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (Count Two), possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (Count Four), and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime (Count Five).
The charges carry the following penalties: Counts One, Two, and Three each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million. Count Four carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Count Five carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, to be served consecutively to any other sentence of imprisonment, a maximum sentence of life in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000.
Raheem Johnson is a resident of Newark, New Jersey, and was arrested on charges stemming from his involvement in narcotics trafficking and firearm possession. The charges are merely accusations, and Johnson is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The Violent Crime Initiative (VCI) is a partnership between various law enforcement agencies to combat violent crime in and around Newark. Raheem Johnson was a target of this initiative and was arrested as a result of the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Samantha C. Fasanello of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Violent Crimes Unit in Newark. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey.
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Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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