Two Members of the Neighborhood Bloods Street Gang in Jersey Convicted of Murdering Pregnant Woman and Two Others

NEWARK, N.J. – Two members of the Neighborhood Bloods street gang, which operated in Jersey City, New Jersey, were convicted of multiple charges stemming from the January 16, 2017, murder of three Jersey City residents, including a twenty-five-year-old pregnant woman, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced.

“These convictions hold accountable violent gang members who carried out a calculated, execution-style triple homicide, including the murder of a young pregnant woman. The defendants planned these killings with chilling deliberation and then attempted to silence their own associate to avoid justice. Today’s verdicts make clear that this level of brutality will be met with the full force of federal prosecution, and that those who terrorize our communities will face severe consequences.”

- Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello

“Through the Jersey City Violent Crime Initiative, the full force of NJ Law enforcement is called upon in the aftermath of heinous crimes such as this triple homicide,” said FBI Newark Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy. “This show of force will make clear to anyone contemplating gang-related or other violent crimes: do not expect to walk free in New Jersey.”

Following a month-long jury trial, Markell Brown, a/k/a “Sayboy,” 37, of Jersey City, New Jersey, was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, three counts of murder in aid of racketeering, three counts of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and three counts of causing death through use of a firearm. Terence Shaw, a/k/a “Sweet Meat,” 37, of Jersey City, New Jersey, was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, two counts of murder in aid of racketeering, two counts of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and two counts of causing death through use of a firearm.  With respect to Shaw, the jury could not come to a unanimous verdict as to one count of murder in aid of racketeering, one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and one count of causing death through use of a firearm

According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial:

On January 16, 2017, Brown and Shaw murdered a rival gang member with whom they had been feuding, along with the rival gang member’s pregnant girlfriend.  Brown then murdered one of Brown and Shaw’s own associates, who had accompanied them to commit the murders.  Brown and Shaw planned the murders through, among other things, orchestrating the use of a stolen U-Haul truck and purchasing two-way walkie-talkie radios to use during the murders.  Brown and Shaw then used their associate to obtain access to the rival gang member’s apartment.  After entering that residence on Fulton Avenue in Jersey City shortly before 10:00 p.m., Brown and Shaw executed the rival gang member, shooting him in the back of the head, the left arm, and the right shoulder.  They also executed the twenty-five-year-old woman, shooting her in the back of the head and the chest.  As Brown left the Fulton Avenue apartment, he shot his and Shaw’s associate in the chest to eliminate the possibility that he would provide information to law enforcement.

The conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.  Brown and Shaw face mandatory life sentences for each count of murder in aid of racketeering.  For each count of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, they face mandatory consecutive sentences of ten years’ imprisonment.  The counts charging Brown and Shaw with causing death through use of a firearm carry maximum life sentences.  Sentencing is scheduled for April 22, 2026.

Senior Counsel Lamparello credited the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Wayne Mello, and the Jersey City Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director James Shea, as well as special agents of the FBI, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy with the investigation leading to the charges and arrests.

This investigation was conducted as part of the Jersey City Violent Crime Initiative (VCI). 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 sole purpose of combatting violent crime in and around Jersey City.  As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate to strategize and prioritize the prosecution of 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, the U.S. Marshals, the Jersey City Police Department, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Parole, the Hudson County Jail, and the New Jersey State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kendall Randolph and Senior Trial Counsel Robert Frazer of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Unit in Newark and Assistant U.S. Attorney James Graham of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Special Prosecutions Division in Newark. 

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Defense counsel:
Brown - Stephen Turano, Esq. New York, and Thomas Ambrosio, Esq.

Shaw - Brooke Barnett, Esq. and Henry Klingeman, Esq.