Newark -- Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today that an Essex County Grand Jury has returned a 24-count indictment charging Bomani Duncan, 19, of Bloomfield with using Twitter to orchestrate a robbery as well as to sell drugs and handguns while promoting gang activity.
In addition to Duncan, Taquan Williams, 19, and Yasin Shabazz, 18, both of East Orange, were charged in connection with those offenses. Duncan was charged in 22 counts.
Williams is charged in seven, including conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery, multiple weapons offenses, and possession of prescription pills with intent to distribute.
Shabazz is charged in two counts. In one he is charged with attempting to buy a gun from Duncan without a valid purchasers’ permit and in another he is charged with attempting to sell a handgun to Duncan on Twitter.
Assistant Prosecutor Joseph A. Giordano, who is handling the case, said Duncan is charged with one count of robbery, one count of gang criminality, two counts of witness tampering, including bribery of a witness, one count of leading a firearms trafficking network, one count of promoting organized street crime, one count of weapons training for an unlawful purpose and eight counts of gun trafficking, including selling to a person under the age of 21.
The indictment alleges that beginning on Feb. 18 of this year in East Orange, Duncan conspired with others as an organizer and manager of the sales of firearms in violation of the law and in furtherance of a G-Shine set of the Bloods Street Gang by attempting to sell handguns in furtherance of a dispute with rival gangs and encouraging others to join his set of the G-Shine Bloods.
Duncan is accused of conspiring with others as an organizer and manager of a network of users on Twitter to transfer, sell, or otherwise dispose of firearms for profit.
The indictment alleges that from Feb. 22 to March 8, 2015 Duncan possess a .32 Caliber Smith & Wesson revolver which was displayed in social media posts.
It is further alleged that on March 17, 2015, in East Orange, Duncan conspired with Williams and another individual unknown to the Grand Jury to commit a theft upon a woman while displaying handguns. Duncan was arrested in connection with that robbery later that night. A .32 caliber Smith and Wesson handgun was found in his car along with a 9mm Ekol imitation firearm. They are also accused of possessing 11 pills without a valid prescription with intent to distribute them.
Duncan is accused of robbing a woman while knowingly involved in street gang activity; namely, the G-Shine set of the Bloods, and while attempting to sell guns to other Twitter users throughout March and Shabazz on numerous dates in March and February, in furtherance of gang activity.
Duncan along with other unindicted co-conspirators unknown to the Grand Jury are further accused of obstructing a robbery investigation by contacting the victim and asking her to drop charges against Duncan in exchange for $200.
On July 21, 2015, Duncan is accused of meeting with others at a firing range in Randolph, with the purpose of training and practicing with a firearm, intending to employ such training for use in or in furtherance of an illegal activity, namely, robbery and gun distribution.
On Sept. 28, 2015 Duncan was arrested in East Orange on unrelated weapons and drug charges. Bail was set at $150,000 with no 10% by the Honorable Sybil Elias. The first court appearance in this case is set for Dec. 8, 2015 before Hon. Martin G. Cronin.
These are accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law or enter a guilty plea.