NEWARK, NJ — One of 17 defendants arrested in connection with a Newark street gang known as the “Famous Boyz” admitted Oct. 2 that he distributed narcotics as part of a drug-trafficking conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Ibn Saadiq, aka “Zero,” 22, of Newark, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin. He is the seventh defendant to plead guilty in the case so far.
On Sept. 30, a grand jury returned a 21-count superseding indictment charging Patricio Hernandez; Jonathan Hernandez; Jonathan Garcia, aka “Bebo”; Javon Holmes, aka “J-Dot”; and John Mosley, aka “Breezy” and “Brazy.” The charges in the superseding indictment and previous criminal complaint remain pending, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court, in October 2018, after a lengthy wiretap investigation, Saadiq and 16 other members of a violent drug-trafficking conspiracy operating in Newark were charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and/or heroin. The defendants are members and associates of the Famous Boyz, a subset of the Brick City Brim set of the Bloods street gang, which dealt significant quantities of heroin and crack cocaine, primarily in the area of South 18th Street and 15th Avenue in Newark. The gang often referred to this area as the “8 Block,” “18th” or simply by reference to the number “8.”
The six defendants who previously pleaded guilty are: Quaheem Bethea, aka “Troub,” 20; Angelo West, aka “Come Up,” 21; David Lamar, aka “Brazy Ru,” 27; Malik Minor, aka “YK,” 22; Omar Jones, aka “Torch,” 20; and Robert Dorrah, aka “Cash Out,” 21, all of Newark.
The heroin and crack cocaine conspiracy counts carry a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $5 million. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 21.
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