Jersey City Gang Members Face Life in Case Involving Drugs, Weapons and Murder.
Eleven member of a Jersey City gang associated with the Marion Gardens Housing Complex are facing maximum sentences of life in prison for their roles in a violent racketeering and drug trafficking conspiracy.
According to U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger, the conspiracy resulted in the murders of three rival gang members and hundreds of drug transactions.
“These charges are the most recent example of this Office’s commitment to stopping violent crime in Jersey City and elsewhere in New Jersey,” U.S. Attorney Sellinger said. “As we continue to demonstrate, we are tirelessly committed to working with our federal, state and local partners to bring to justice those who wreak havoc in our communities by allegedly committing senseless acts of violence.”
The indictment charges that on March 29, 2021, Khalil Kelley, aka “Billski,” 24, of Jersey City and Andre Alomar, aka “Dre8,” 22, of Newark along with other gang members lured a rival gang member outside by sending him Instagram messages pretending to be the victim’s fellow gang member. When the victim opened the door to his residence, Kelley and Alomar brandished firearms. Kelley shot the victim multiple times in the chest, killing him. Roger Pickett, aka “Zy Gz,” 23, of Jersey City and another gang member then picked up Kelley, Alomar, and the driver of the murder vehicle after they abandoned the murder vehicle in Newark.
Then, on Nov. 20, 2021, Myron Williams, aka “Money,” aka “Tunchi,” 30, of Newark, Pickett, and other gang members lured another rival gang member outside by sending him Instagram messages pretending to be the his fellow gang member. Myron Williams and another gang member shot the victim when he opened the door to his residence.
Finally, on Nov. 21, 2022, Jawaad Davis, 21, of Jersey City facilitated the murder of the third victim by arranging a narcotics transaction with the victim and an associate of the victim. When the victim and his associate arrived at the Marion Gardens Housing Complex to complete the narcotics transaction, Davis robbed the victim’s narcotics supply while Pickett and Quaseame Wilson, aka “Qua Gz,” 27, of Jersey City, held the victim and his associate at gunpoint. A struggle followed and Pickett shot and killed the victim while his associate fled. Pickett and Wilson then fled the Marion Gardens Housing Complex in Pickett’s vehicle.
The indictment also charges Herbert Thomas, 48, of Jersey City; Anthony Rogers, aka “MG,” 23, of Jersey City; Naim Richardson, aka “Ninicks,” 30, of Jersey City; Javon Williams, aka “J45,” 26, of Jersey City; and Keith Anderson, aka “Beef3,” 21, of Jersey City, with taking part in the conspiracy.
The investigation revealed that Thomas was the primary supplier of narcotics to the Marion Gardens drug trafficking organization. When Thomas, Myron Williams, Richardson, and Rogers, were arrested on March 17, 2023, they all possessed controlled substances packaged for distribution; Thomas also possessed a loaded firearm and both Myron Williams and Richardson possessed ammunition.
Investigators observed and documented hundreds of narcotics transactions in and around the Marion Gardens Housing Complex during the months-long investigation.
In June 2021, eight other members and associates of the Marion Gardens neighborhood street gang were indicted on racketeering charges, violent crimes in aid of racketeering, drug trafficking, and firearms offenses.
The investigation was conducted as part of the Jersey City Violent Crime Initiative. The VCI was formed in 2018 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Jersey City Police Department, for the purpose of combatting violent crime in and around Jersey City.
“These indictments underscore the importance of working collaboratively with law enforcement at all levels to ensure our communities are safe for everyone” Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said.