NEWARK, N.J. – A Newark man was sentenced today to 151 months in prison for possession of a loaded firearm and possession with intent to distribute heroin in Newark U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Official say Aljaneer Waller, 41, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Kevin McNulty to an information charging him with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin. Judge McNulty imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Officials say on May 11, 2018, at approximately 8:00 p.m., officers from the Newark Police Criminal Intelligence Unit were patrolling the area of Maple and Hansbury avenues in Newark when they observed an Audi automobile parked in the driveway of what appeared to be an uninhabited house.
The vehicle had dark tinting on all of its windows, including on the front windows and windshield, which is a violation of New Jersey motor vehicle traffic laws. It was also partially blocking the sidewalk, which is also a violation of New Jersey motor vehicle laws.
As the officers approached the Audi, they observed Waller sitting in the reclined driver’s seat with the window rolled down.
They also smelled a strong odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle.
When Waller observed the officers approaching the Audi, he became startled and abruptly turned towards the back seat, and then turned back towards the front again.
One of the officers then shined his flashlight into the Audi and observed what appeared to be a silver handgun on the back seat of the Audi.
Waller opened the driver’s door and began to quickly exit the Audi. However, the officers detained him and then conducted a search of the back seat area of the Audi, which revealed a loaded .357 Magnum Ruger SP101 revolver and 114 envelopes of heroin.
Waller was also found to have $1,067 in cash in his pocket. In the trunk of the Audi, officers found more than $13,000 and 40.6 grams of marijuana.