Newark -- Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today that Ali Bass, Arsenio Payton and Tyree Miller entered guilty pleas today before the Honorable Alfonse J. Cifelli, Judge of the Superior Court, in connection with the 2009 fatal shooting of Quawan Robinson, 31, of Newark.
Following seven weeks of jury selection, opening arguments were scheduled to begin this week but lawyers reached a plea agreement today.
Assistant Prosecutor Michele Miller, who handled the case, said, "The killing of Quawan Robinson was a cold, calculated business decision made in an effort to take over Robinson's drug territory on Johnson Avenue.
This was a hostile business takeover Newark street gang style.''
The victim, Quawan Robinson, was shot at seven times on Dec. 11, 2009 while sitting in a car on Johnson Avenue in Newark.
According to Assistant Prosecutor Miller, the incident began with a robbery. Bass and the others robbed a 15-year-old who was selling drugs for Robinson. They held the teen at gunpoint and ordered him to call Robinson and lure him to the scene. When Robinson arrived, Payton opened fire on the driver side of the vehicle, fatally injuring Robinson.
Today, Payton, 27, of Newark admitted being the shooter. Bass, 33, of Newark admitted ordering the shooting of Robinson. Bass and Payton pled guilty to aggravated manslaughter, conspiracy, robbery, and weapons offenses.
Miller, 33, of Orange pled guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
All three defendants implicated each other in the crimes committed when pleading today.
All three were convicted felons at the time of the crime. Consequently, they also pled guilty to being convicted felons in possession of an illegal weapon. Each was sentenced to five years on that charge.
Sentencing for all three defendants is scheduled for July 15 before Judge Cifelli.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, Bass is expected to be sentenced to 15 years in New Jersey State Prison. Payton is expected to be sentenced to 14 years and Miller is expected to be sentenced to nine years. All three defendants must serve 85 percent of their respective sentences before they will be eligible for parole.
Payton also pled guilty to perjury and was sentenced to three years to run consecutively to the 14-year sentence. The perjury arises from false testimony Payton made during the Oct. 2015 trial of Bass on eluding charges. Bass is presently serving 20 years in New Jersey State Prison for that unrelated conviction.
In addition, Bass is awaiting trial for the fatal shootings of Hassan Brown, 29, of Newark and Franklin Johnson, 47, of East Orange. Those shootings occurred in the 100 block of 12th Street in Newark. The plea today does not affect that case. The remaining charges against Bass are accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they enter a guilty plea or are found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.