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Teriek Edwards, Drug & Weapons Trafficking, Newark NJ, 2022
NEWARK, NJ – A Newark man is headed to federal prison for nearly eight years after a six-day trial exposed his involvement in a drug and firearms operation. Teriek Edwards, 44, received a 93-month sentence today from U.S. District Judge John Michael Vazquez, capping a case built on a chaotic arrest and a subsequent investigation by multiple agencies.
The bust began on May 25, 2018, when officers with the East Orange Police Department attempted to pull Edwards over as part of an ongoing probe. Rather than cooperate, Edwards bolted, initiating a struggle with law enforcement. During the scuffle, officers recovered a cocktail of narcotics – heroin, cocaine, and oxycodone – stashed in Edwards’ pockets, along with a loaded 9mm handgun containing 12 rounds of ammunition. A federal complaint and arrest warrant swiftly followed.
But Edwards remained free for just over three months. On August 22, 2018, the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force finally apprehended him. The search turned up a second loaded 9mm firearm, this one containing eight rounds. The discovery of a second weapon solidified the case against Edwards, painting a picture of a man deeply entrenched in criminal activity.
Prosecutors successfully argued that Edwards possessed the firearms not for self-defense, but in direct connection with his drug trafficking operation – a critical element that added to the severity of the sentencing. He was convicted on two counts of possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon, one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin, cocaine, and oxycodone, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The evidence presented at trial clearly demonstrated his guilt, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
In addition to the 93-month prison sentence, Judge Vazquez tacked on three years of supervised release. The investigation was a collaborative effort, involving special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the East Orange and Newark Police Departments, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Acting Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller of the ATF and other agency heads lauded the teamwork that led to Edwards’ conviction.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tracey Agnew and Samantha C. Fasanello of the Criminal Division handled the prosecution. This case underscores the federal commitment to dismantling drug and gun networks operating in New Jersey and bringing perpetrators like Teriek Edwards to justice. The streets of Newark are a little safer with this repeat offender behind bars.
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons
- Source: Official Press Release
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