By: Richard L. Smith
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced the conviction of Michael Healy, a 43-year-old Montclair resident, for his involvement in a series of violent crimes tied to a large-scale narcotics operation.
Following a four-week trial in Newark federal court, a federal jury found Healy guilty of numerous charges, including racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute narcotics, conspiring to murder a federal witness, three counts of murder in aid of racketeering, and related firearms offenses.
Healy's conviction stems from his leadership role in a sophisticated drug trafficking enterprise (DTE) that, starting around 2012, managed the procurement, transportation, and distribution of substantial quantities of cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and marijuana, primarily in and around Newark, New Jersey.
Utilizing his status within the Tree Top PIRU Bloods gang, Healy orchestrated the operation, leveraging gang resources and members to execute the enterprise's activities.
The case against Healy highlighted his ruthless approach to maintaining control and secrecy within his operation.
In February 2018, upon learning that a conspirator might be cooperating with law enforcement,
Healy ordered the execution of the informant. A tragic case of mistaken identity led to the killing of an innocent bystander before the intended target was eventually murdered.
Furthermore, Healy personally murdered another member of the enterprise, perceived as a potential threat, underscoring the violent measures he was willing to take.
Several of Healy's associates, identified as members of the Brick City Brims subset of the Bloods street gang, have already faced justice for their roles in the murders, receiving sentences ranging from 25 to 37 years.
Healy now faces multiple life sentences, with his sentencing scheduled for October 1, 2024, marking the closure of a chapter that left three men dead and exposed the perilous nature of drug-related gang activity.