Newark man sentenced to prison for weapons and drug offenses

NEWARK, NJ — A Newark man was sentenced Nov. 28 to seven years and nine months in prison on weapons and drug charges, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Teriek Edwards, 44, was previously convicted on two counts of possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon; one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin, cocaine and oxycodone; and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of possession with intent to distribute heroin, cocaine and oxycodone, following a six-day trial before U.S. District Judge John Michael Vazquez, who imposed the sentence in Newark federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial, on May 25, 2018, members of the East Orange Police Department attempted to stop Edwards as part of an ongoing investigation. Upon being approached by law enforcement officers, Edwards fled and a struggle ensued. Edwards was arrested and law enforcement officers recovered heroin, cocaine, oxycodone and other illegal narcotics from his pants pockets, as well as a 9 mm firearm loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition. A federal complaint was filed against Edwards and a federal arrest warrant was issued.

On Aug. 22, 2018, the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force arrested Edwards on that federal arrest warrant, at which time they recovered a second handgun — a 9 mm firearm loaded with eight rounds of ammunition.

In addition to the prison term, Vazquez sentenced Edwards to three years of supervised release.