Two New Jersey men admitted to drug distribution charges connected to conspiring to distribute cocaine base and distributing fentanyl and cocaine base, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced today.
Federal officials said Tyrell Wilson, aka “Hell Rell,” 36, of Rahway, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base and one count of possession with intent to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base.
Marvin Lagrier, aka “Black Jesus,” 39, of Newark, pleaded guilty before Judge Arleo on August 12 to a superseding information charging him with one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Lagrier was a Newark Housing Authority employee at the time of his arrest.
In September 2019, Lagrier and Wilson were charged in a federal criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine and possession with the intent to distribute heroin and cocaine base.
Wilson was also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Lagrier was indicted on these charges in October 2019.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On September 19, 2019, law enforcement officers approached an apartment in Essex County to execute a court-authorized search warrant.
Wilson and Lagrier exited the apartment and attempted to flee the area but were apprehended and placed under arrest.
Upon searching the apartment, Wilson’s vehicle and a backpack that Wilson discarded while fleeing, law enforcement officers recovered a large amount of cocaine base, heroin, and fentanyl, as well as many items of drug paraphernalia for packaging narcotics.
Law enforcement officers also recovered a firearm and several rounds of ammunition as well as several cellular phones.
They also recovered several brown Newark Housing Authority uniforms bearing the name tag “Marvin,” which matched the uniform that Lagrier wore at the time of his arrest.
The cocaine base conspiracy count to which Wilson pleaded guilty carries a statutory mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a maximum fine of $10 million.
The fentanyl possession count to which Lagrier pleaded guilty carries a statutory mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years, a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $5 million.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 16, for Lagrier, and for January 13, for Wilson.