By: Tracie Carter
Nine individuals have been charged for their roles in a drug trafficking organization that distributed large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine in Essex County, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger announced.
Federal officials said the charged individuals are Calvin Swinton, aka “40,” 32; Lance Yarbough, aka “L-Boog,” 42; Jahad Gorsuch, aka “Hadi Mu,” 47; Coyette Elliott, aka “Q,” 56; Derrick Davidson, aka “Lefty,” 55; Rashem Batts, aka “Dae Dae,” 48; Kiion Scovil, aka “Skrapp,” 35; Tishawn Scovil, aka “Ty,” 33; and Amanda Brown, aka “Manda,” 32, all from Essex County, New Jersey.
They have been charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine. All defendants are currently in custody.
Seven of the defendants are scheduled to make initial court appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court. Elliott and Scovil are in state custody and will make their initial appearances at a later date.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the defendants are members of a drug trafficking organization that operated an open-air narcotics market in the areas of West End and 18th Avenues and Alexander Street in Newark.
This organization is affiliated with the Sex, Money, Murder set of the Bloods street gang.
Over several months, law enforcement conducted extensive surveillance, carried out numerous controlled purchases of narcotics, seized narcotics through enforcement actions, and analyzed telephone records, all of which demonstrated extensive interactions between and among the charged defendants.
The investigation revealed that the organization distributed in excess of 400 grams of fentanyl.
The defendants face a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a $10 million fine.