Twenty-Four Defendants Charged with Narcotics and Firearms Offenses for their Roles in a Drug Trafficking Organization Controlled by the Bloods Street Gang

NEWARK, N.J. – Twenty-four people have been charged for their respective roles in a drug trafficking organization that distributed large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, and crack cocaine in the Bradley Court Housing Complex in Newark, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

Today’s charges and arrests are the result of a 14-month investigation led by the Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in collaboration with the Newark Police Department.

Shamon Freshley, a/k/a “Hitta,” 26, Orlando Pizarro, a/k/a “Lando,” 26, Zakir Jefferson, a/k/a “Gu,” a/k/a “Tank,” 26, Quayyon Johnson, a/k/a “Weeze,” 22, Melvin Faines, a/k/a “Spaz,” 34, Afrika Islam, a/k/a “Sexx,” 29, Shaheem Webb, a/k/a “YC,” 23, Eustace Weeks, a/k/a “Juxx,” 26, Ali Baker, a/k/a “Surf,” 34, Jose Ward, a/k/a “Hec,” 22, Brandon Sneed, a/k/a “Pops,” 31, Eric Banks, a/k/a “Lil Maneskii,” 19, Tauheed Carney, a/k/a “Bmunn,” 21, Tykee Stokes, a/k/a “Big,” 32, Shafeek Barker, a/k/a “Sha,” 28, Ibn Perry, a/k/a “Loop,” 38, Alvin Jones, a/k/a “Lucky,” 41, Kirk Mansook, a/k/a “Crow,” 39, Tyjanique Green, a/k/a “Ski,” 24, Jubar Hughes, a/k/a “Dudu,” 27, Daisean Williams, a/k/a “Khaos,” 22, Jason Wardlaw, a/k/a “Jayr,” 30, and Rana James a/k/a “Pooh,” 28, all of Essex County, New Jersey, were charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine.

Sebastian Pierrecent, a/k/a “Sosa,” 21, Quayyan Johnson, and Tauheed Carney are also each charged with possession of a machinegun. In addition, Pierrecent is charged with possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon.

The defendants arrested today are scheduled to make initial court appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacey D. Adams in Newark federal court this afternoon. Four defendants were already in custody on state charges, one defendant was already in federal custody, and 5 defendants remain at large. 

“For far too long, the Bloods have overtaken the Bradley Court Housing Complex — turning its courtyards and residential buildings into a hub for pumping deadly fentanyl into the city of Newark, while endangering the lives of the citizens who call this community home. This poison has ripped families apart and stolen countless lives.  That stops today.  These arrests affirm my office’s commitment to taking guns and drugs off the streets, and serves as a clear warning to anyone who considers engaging in violent activity. The defendants in this case, as in all criminal cases, are presumed innocent unless, and until proven guilty.  However, everyone should understand that if you spread this poison or engage in this violent activity, we will use every resource necessary to find you, dismantle your operation, and prosecute you. ”

- U.S. Attorney Alina Habba

The defendants are members or associates of Sex, Money, Murder (“SMM”), a Blood-affiliated criminal street gang that controls the drug trade in and around the Bradley Court Housing Complex (“Bradley Court”), among other areas.  The subset of Sex, Money, Murder that operates in and around Bradley Court—which is located in the area of North Munn Avenue and Tremont Avenue in Newark—is also known as Munn Block, M-Blok, and Tombstone Gang (the “Enterprise”). Munn Block is closely aligned with another Blood-affiliated gang known as Voorhees, which operates in the area of Voorhees Street in Newark.  Members and associates of this alliance refer to the alliance as “MunnHees.”

Members and associates of the Enterprise are known to use social media on a variety of platforms and mobile applications, including Instagram, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), Signal, Telegram, and WhatsApp to conduct the business of the Enterprise, communicate with one another, promote the Enterprise through sharing photographs and videos, and further the Enterprise’s goals. Specifically, the Enterprise uses the release and promotion of drill rap songs and music videos on social media to intimidate rival gang members, witnesses, and other members of the community, and to promote the Enterprise.

For over a year, law enforcement conducted extensive surveillance of the area, conducted numerous controlled purchases of narcotics, seized narcotics through enforcement action, and analyzed telephone records, all of which demonstrated extensive interactions between and among the charged defendants.

Pierrecent, Johnson, and Carney, are also charged with possession of a machine gun that was used in the June 17, 2025 shooting in rival gang territory near Mapes Avenue in Newark.

The defendants charged in the drug conspiracy face a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a $10 million fine.  Pierrecent, Johnson, and Carney each face up to 10 years in prison for possession of the machinegun. Pierrecent faces up to 15 years in prison for possession of firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon.

U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of HSI New York Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel; HSI Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy and police officers and detectives of the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda with the investigation leading to the charges. She also thanked U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, under the direction of Acting Port Director Leon Hayward, Port of New York/Newark; members of the United Marshals Service, under the direction of U.S. Marshal for the District of New Jersey Juan Mattos; special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy; detectives of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II; police officers and detectives of the East Orange Police Department, under the direction of Chief Phyllis L. Bindi; detectives of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone; and detectives of the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, for their assistance with the investigation.

The investigation was conducted as part of the Newark Violent Crime Initiative (“VCI”).  The Newark VCI was formed in August 2017 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, and the City of Newark’s Department of Public Safety for the sole purpose of combatting violent crime in and around Newark.  As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate and pool resources to prosecute violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community.  The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New Jersey Division, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals, the Newark Department of Public Safety, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Parole, Union County Jail, New Jersey State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center, New Jersey Department of Corrections, the East Orange Police Department, and the Irvington Police Department.

This investigation is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason Goldberg and Javon Henry of the Organized Crime and Gangs Unit in Newark.

The charges and allegations contained in the complaints are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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Defense Counsel:

Zakir Jefferson: John McMahon, Esq.

Melvin Faines: Stephen Natoli, Esq.

Ali Baker: Michael Gilberti, Esq.

Jose Ward: Eric Jaso, Esq.

Brandon Sneed: Brandon Minde, Esq.

Tykee Stokes: Shawn Barnes, Esq.

Shafeek Barker: Charles McKenna, Esq.

Ibn Perry: Scott Krasny, Esq.

Tyjanique Green: Bruce Levy, Esq.

Daisean Williams: Raquel Rivera, Esq.