JERSEY CITY, NJ – Sheldon Mays, 23, known on the streets as “Thottie,” is headed to federal prison for 7.5 years after admitting his role in a savage gang attack that nearly killed a rival. Mays was sentenced Monday, September 18, 2023, to 90 months behind bars for assault with a dangerous weapon – a knife – in aid of racketeering.
The August 3, 2020, attack stemmed from a pre-existing feud between the “Tay Tay Shrimp Gang” (also known as “Curries Woods” or the “Sharks”) and a competing group. According to court documents, Mays and seven other gang members cornered the victim as he walked down a Jersey City street. They descended on him in two vehicles, blocking traffic, and unleashed a brutal beating. Mays specifically wielded a knife, inflicting life-threatening injuries on the man.
The attack, investigators say, was a clear act of retaliation for a prior gang-related assault. The Curries Woods Public Housing Complex, where the “Sharks” operate, has long been a hotspot for gang activity, and this incident underscores the ongoing struggle for control of the area. Federal prosecutors successfully argued that Mays’ actions aided racketeering, elevating the severity of the charges and the ultimate sentence.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger, speaking through a press release, touted the sentencing as a victory for the Jersey City Violent Crime Initiative (VCI), a multi-agency task force dedicated to curbing violence in the city. The VCI, formed in 2018, brings together federal, state, and local law enforcement – including the ATF, FBI, DEA, Jersey City Police, and Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office – to target the most dangerous offenders.
This case was spearheaded by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Newark Field Division, with support from the Jersey City Police Department and the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office. Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller of the ATF and Public Safety Director James Shea of the JCPD both offered statements praising the collaborative effort that led to Mays’ conviction. The sentencing comes as the city continues to grapple with rising concerns over gang-related crime.
In addition to the 90-month prison sentence, Judge Kevin McNulty ordered Mays to serve three years of supervised release upon his eventual release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Agnew prosecuted the case, building a solid case based on evidence gathered through the VCI’s intensive investigation. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the ongoing efforts to dismantle gang activity in Jersey City and beyond.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Violent Crime|Organized Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Press Release
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