By: Najla Alexander
NJ authorities announced that twenty-four people have been charged for their respective roles in gang-related offenses in the area of the Booker T. Washington Housing Complex in Jersey City.
Officials said charges included conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine, Hobbs Act robbery, and use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said the defendants are scheduled to appear this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark III in Newark federal court; four defendants remain at large.
“As alleged, members and associates of the Booker T Street gang committed serious crimes, including using a firearm to commit a robbery, conspiring to distribute fentanyl, and conspiring to commit bank fraud," U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said.
"The charges in this case against 24 defendants demonstrate that, along with our law enforcement partners, we will work tirelessly to root out alleged gang-related criminality in order to make our communities safer.”
“ATF remains unwavering in our pursuit of trigger pullers and firearms traffickers,” Ross A. Marchetti, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said.
“Utilizing crime gun intelligence allows law enforcement to disrupt the shooting cycle by focusing on those individuals and criminal organizations responsible for the gun violence that plagues our neighborhoods."
“These arrests underscore the importance of collaborative work in law enforcement,” Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said.
“As law enforcement officers, our most important job is to protect the citizens of the communities we serve,” Jenifer L. Piovesan, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Newark Field Office, said.
“Today’s arrests are a great example of how we, along with our law enforcement partners, can make a positive impact in our communities by going after and arresting bad actors who plague the communities law-abiding citizens call home.”
“Today’s large-scale operation serves as a great example of the strong partnerships between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in New Jersey,” Christopher Nielsen, Inspector in Charge of the Philadelphia Division for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, said.
“The ability to share resources and intelligence has resulted in dismantling a criminal network involved in violent crimes, narcotics trafficking, and bank fraud schemes – which impacts all citizens in our state. Postal Inspectors are proud to be part of the task force working to combat and prevent these crimes.”
“The successful takedown of this criminal network and removal of violent actors from our community is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our law enforcement officers as well as the critical partnerships between the Jersey City Police Department and leading state and federal agencies in protecting public safety,” Jersey City Public Safety Director James Shea said.
According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Officials stated that several defendants are members and associates of a neighborhood-based street gang that operates in the area of the Booker T. Washington Housing Complex in Jersey City.
The Booker T. street gang is responsible for multiple acts of gang-motivated violence in Jersey City, including homicides and shootings, officials said.
According to officials, the investigation revealed that the gang runs a drug trafficking operation in and around the housing complex and distributes large quantities of controlled substances, including heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine.
Officials said eleven members and associates of the organization are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin, more than 40 grams of fentanyl, and a quantity of cocaine.
In addition, from December 2022 through May 2024, officials say, members, associates, and individuals affiliated with the Booker T. Street gang engaged in a fraudulent check scheme.
Authorities say the defendants charged in the bank fraud conspiracy obtained fraudulent checks, including checks they had printed, stolen checks they had altered, or checks purchased from or traded with other conspirators or third parties in exchange for a fee or percentage of profits.
The defendants then deposited the fraudulent checks into bank accounts that they controlled to access the funds, officials said.
According to officials, the bank fraud scheme resulted in losses exceeding $100,000. Fifteen defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
Officials said two individuals associated with the Booker T street gang – Juan Hemingway, aka “Hort,” and Stephon Murphy, aka “Turk,” are charged with Hobbs Act robbery and unlawful use of a firearm arising from an armed robbery that occurred on May 6, 2024, during which Hemingway and Murphy robbed the victim of items including controlled substances.