NEWARK – Three members and associates of a violent street gang operating in Newark made their initial court appearances on charges of conspiring to distribute narcotics, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Zaire Dickerson, a/k/a “Tarzan,” 23, Shaquejah Wilson-Jones, a/k/a “Kiwi,” 23, and Nassir Grimsley, a/k/a “Chop,” 19, all of Newark, are each charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine base. They all appeared by videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Edward S. Kiel.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Law enforcement has been investigating the 793 set of the Bloods street gang in Newark since at least June 2019. That investigation has revealed that Dickerson and Grimsley are members of the 793 Bloods and distribute narcotics for the gang. Wilson-Jones is associated with the 793 Bloods and distributes narcotics with Dickerson and Grimsley. Members of this 793 set have been engaging in violent disputes with other gangs, trafficked narcotics, and committed various firearms offenses within and around Newark for years. Several recent violent crimes in Newark and elsewhere, are believed to be related to this gang’s operations.
The narcotics conspiracy charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited the Newark Department of Public Safety, under the direction of Director Anthony F. Ambrose, and special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Joe Denahan in Newark, with the investigations leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Desiree Grace Latzer of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Organized Crime and Gangs Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
