By: Richard L. Smith
Two Hudson County men have been charged for their roles in a Jersey City street gang that distributed cocaine and heroin, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced Monday.
Federal officials said Mr. Anthony Phillips, aka “Ant” and “Little Ant,” 31, of Jersey City, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Michael A. Hammer in Newark federal court on June 6, 2024, and was detained.
Phillips was charged on April 30, 2024, with conspiring with Shannon Tisdale, aka “Doonk,” 32, also of Jersey City, to distribute heroin and cocaine.
Phillips also faces charges of possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Previously, Phillips pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter on June 11, 2015, in Hudson County Superior Court for the shooting and killing of an individual in Jersey City, leading to a 13-year prison sentence. He was released under parole supervision on March 14, 2024.
Tisdale appeared before U.S. Magistrate Leda Dunn Wettre in Newark federal court on May 17, 2024, and was also detained.
According to court documents and statements, law enforcement began investigating individuals distributing narcotics in the Lexington and Bergen Avenues area of Jersey City in December 2023.
This investigation included members and associates of the “Lex Mob” street gang.
On April 24, 2024, law enforcement observed Tisdale and Phillips distributing controlled substances in the Lexington area.
When officers attempted to arrest them, both men initially fled. During the pursuit, Phillips was seen discarding a firearm, which was later recovered.
Phillips was apprehended shortly after, and a search revealed he had 12 orange containers of suspected cocaine and 13 orange glassine bags of suspected heroin.
The discarded firearm was found loaded with eight rounds of ammunition.
Phillips faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison for possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, a mandatory minimum of five years for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and up to 20 years for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
Tisdale also faces up to 20 years in prison for the conspiracy and distribution charges.