Robert Smith, a/k/a “Born,” 43, of Trenton, New Jersey, and Derrick Adams, a/k/a “Little D,” 30, of Florence and Willingboro, New Jersey, were sentenced today to 360 and 120 months in federal prison, respectively, for orchestrating a violent plot to rob a drug stash house of multiple kilograms of cocaine at gunpoint. The scheme, which unraveled in January 2014, exposed a chilling willingness to kill to secure the stolen narcotics.
U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced the sentences handed down by U.S. District Judge Noel L. Hillman, who also ordered both men to serve five years of supervised release following their incarceration. Smith was convicted after a one-week jury trial in April 2016 on charges including conspiracy to commit robbery, conspiracy to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine, possessing a firearm in connection with a crime of violence and a drug trafficking crime, and possessing a firearm as a previously-convicted felon.
Adams, who pleaded guilty in November 2015 to conspiracy to commit robbery and conspiracy to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine, played a central role in the plot. Court documents reveal that Smith and Adams coordinated their plan through text messages and recorded conversations, discussing how they would pose as law enforcement officers to gain access to the stash house—then take everything by force.
On January 30, 2014, the operation collapsed when Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents intercepted Smith, Adams, and four other conspirators at a meeting point in Maple Shade, New Jersey. A search of the suspects and their vehicles turned up five firearms—among them a sawed-off shotgun and two stolen handguns—along with ammunition, a ballistics vest, masks, gloves, and zip ties, all prepped for a violent home invasion.
During the investigation, recordings captured Smith stating he was prepared to kill the occupants of the stash house if necessary. The stash house was, in fact, a law enforcement ruse—a controlled setup used to expose and dismantle the conspiracy before any actual robbery or loss of life occurred.
Three other co-conspirators—Daquon Basnight, 25, Jamiil McFarlane, 24, and Morris Muse, 36, all of Trenton—have already been sentenced. A sixth suspect, Sean Forman, 43, of Willingboro, remains awaiting sentencing. The ATF Camden Field Office, under Special Agent in Charge George P. Belsky, led the investigation, with support from the DEA Maple Shade Field Office and local police in Burlington City and Burlington Township. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin C. Danilewitz and Howard Wiener prosecuted the case.
Related Federal Cases
- Hodge, Pierce Get Decades for Cocaine Stash House Heist Plot · New Jersey
- Sean Forman Sentenced to 8 Years in Cocaine Robbery Plot · New Jersey
- Four 18th Street Gang Members Charged in Bar Robbery, Taxi Driver Kidnapping · New Jersey
- El Paso Man Raul Chavez Gets 12 Years for Cocaine Trafficking · Connecticut
- Hartford Cocaine Kingpin Todd Vernon Caged for 5 Years · Connecticut
Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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