A Passaic County man was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for conspiring to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and cocaine base and to distributing a quantity of heroin and fentanyl, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
According to government officials, Jimir Ricks, 26, of Paterson, previously pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti to an information charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and a quantity of cocaine base and knowingly and intentionally distributing heroin and fentanyl.
Officials say Judge Martinotti imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Ricks and his conspirators are members and associates of the 230 Boys street gang, which operates primarily around Rosa Parks Boulevard and Godwin Avenue in Paterson.
Through numerous controlled purchases of narcotics, consensually recorded telephone calls and text messages, physical surveillance, and the analysis of telephone call detail records, law enforcement determined that from at least September 2018 through Oct. 1, 2019, Ricks and his conspirators conspired to distribute narcotics, including heroin and fentanyl.
Authorities say that in addition to the prison term, Judge Martinotti sentenced Ricks to five years of supervised release.
According to officials, this case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Authorities say Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents and task force officers with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Division, officers of the N.J. State Police, officers of the Paterson Police Department, detectives of the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
She also thanked the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bergen County Sheriff's Office and the Belleville and Livingston police departments for their assistance with the case, officials say.