By: Richard L. Smith
A Newark woman was sentenced today to 120 months in prison for possessing with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Mahogany Hawkins, 32, was previously convicted of one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine following a two-day trial before U.S. Circuit Judge Stephanos Bibas, who imposed the sentence today in Camden federal court.
According to court documents and statements made during the trial, in March 2021, law enforcement intercepted two FedEx parcels addressed to “John Brown” in Newark, which contained cocaine.
On March 15, 2021, an undercover officer, posing as a FedEx driver, delivered the packages to Hawkins, who accepted them at her door.
When officers identified themselves and knocked on her door again, Hawkins delayed by saying she was “getting dressed” but did not open the door.
The officers forced entry and found Hawkins in the bedroom.
A subsequent search of Hawkins' apartment, authorized by a search warrant, revealed a locked backroom used for packaging narcotics.
Inside the room, officers found the intercepted FedEx packages in a garbage can, methamphetamine pills, additional cocaine, numerous empty vials, and a heat sealer. Laboratory analysis confirmed the substances were cocaine and methamphetamine.
A loaded handgun and an extended magazine were also found.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Bibas sentenced Hawkins to five years of supervised release.