Zaire Dickerson, Narcotics Conspiracy, New Jersey 2024

Three alleged members of the violent 793 set of the Bloods street gang in Newark are behind bars, charged in a federal narcotics conspiracy that has fueled years of drug trafficking and gang violence across the city. Zaire Dickerson, a/k/a “Tarzan,” 23, Shaquejah Wilson-Jones, a/k/a “Kiwi,” 23, and Nassir Grimsley, a/k/a “Chop,” 19, all of Newark, made their initial court appearances today via videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Edward S. Kiel.

The trio faces one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine base. The charges are the latest blow in a sprawling investigation by federal and local law enforcement that has targeted the 793 Bloods since at least June 2019. According to court documents, Dickerson and Grimsley are confirmed members of the gang, while Wilson-Jones is a known associate who operated alongside them in narcotics distribution.

The 793 Bloods have long been a destabilizing force in Newark, engaged in bloody turf wars, armed confrontations, and a steady flow of narcotics into high-crime neighborhoods. The gang’s operations have been tied to multiple shootings and violent altercations both inside and outside city limits. Authorities say the gang’s criminal reach extends beyond drug sales, with numerous firearms violations linked to its members.

Each defendant now stares down a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a $1,000,000 fine if convicted. The charges stem from wiretaps, surveillance, and informant testimony gathered over months of coordinated work between the FBI and the Newark Department of Public Safety. Acting Special Agent in Charge Joe Denahan of the FBI Newark Field Office and Director Anthony F. Ambrose of the Newark DPS oversaw the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Desiree Grace Latzer of the Organized Crime and Gangs Unit is prosecuting the case. Prosecutors argue the arrests disrupt a key supply chain in Newark’s illicit drug market and may help stem the tide of retaliatory violence tied to gang rivalry. But with deep-rooted street networks still active, law enforcement warns the battle is far from over.

As of now, the defendants remain in custody awaiting further proceedings. The complaint filed against them contains only allegations, and they are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The investigation continues as federal agents work to dismantle the broader network supporting the 793 Bloods’ criminal enterprise.

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