On July 12, 2017, a Hudson County Grand Jury handed up a 79-count indictment charging Golden Williamson, 31, of Jersey City, with being a Leader of a Narcotics Trafficking Network and two counts of Murder relating to the deaths of Kevin Miles on Stuyvesant Avenue in Jersey City on January 28, 2016, and Byunguen Lee on Bergen Avenue in Jersey City on December 19, 2015.
Police also charged Williamson with the attempted murder of several victims in Jersey City as well as multiple victims in Toms River, New Jersey.
A joint investigation conducted by the Office of the Ocean County Prosecutor, the Office of the Hudson County Prosecutor and multiple municipal police departments revealed an illegal drug enterprise that extended from Jersey City to Monmouth and Ocean counties where Williamson and his associates would arrange for the distribution of Controlled Dangerous Substances that included heroin and cocaine.
Also charged in the indictment are Eric Dawson, 26, of Jersey City; Robert Dawson, 26, of East Orange; James Staggers, 28, of Jersey City; Darrell Winfree, 34, of Jersey City; Adrian Rodino, 41, of West New York; and Shannon Walter, 25, of Brick.
Police charged Eric Dawson along with Williamson, with one-count of Murder and Conspiracy to Commit Murder related to the death of Kevin Miles, as well as weapons related offenses.
Staggers is charged, along with Williamson, with Attempted Murder and several weapons offenses related to a shooting that occurred on November 4, 2015, on Ocean Avenue in Jersey City.
Robert Dawson, Winfree, Rodino and Walter were charged with Conspiracy and Illegal Drug offenses as part of the Narcotics Trafficking Network.
“The leaders of this violent narcotics network engaged in multiple vicious attacks bringing fear and intimidation to witnesses, residents and business owners in Jersey City and other municipalities statewide,” said Prosecutor Suarez. “I am extremely proud of the collaborative effort by the law enforcement professionals who engaged in the lengthy, detailed and methodical investigation which led to this indictment.”
In commenting about the investigation, Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato stated, “The connectivity, cooperation and investigative excellence demonstrated by members of both the Hudson and Ocean County Prosecutor Offices has resulted in a very clear picture of the potential danger this defendant and his associates presented to New Jersey citizens.
The Ocean County Major Crimes Unit and Special Operations Group were able to complete one of the most significant criminal cases of my tenure thanks to the help and professionalism of Hudson County Prosecutor’s investigators.”
Prosecutor Suarez credited investigators from her Homicide Unit and Gang Task Force, as well as the Major Crimes Unit of the Office of the Ocean County Prosecutor, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, the Jersey City Police Department, the Toms River Police Department, the Wall Township Police Department and the Tinton Falls Police Department, all who assisted with the investigation.
The above charges are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6).