A member of a North Jersey street gang has been charged with various federal crimes for allegedly holding a U.S. Postal Service worker at gunpoint in an attempt to steal a mailbox key.
Jazmeir Reyes, 19, who also goes by the street names of “Joe” and “Baby Joe,” has been charged by complaint with Hobbs Act robbery, assaulting or impeding certain United States officers or employees and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of New Jersey said in a news release.
In a separate federal complaint, he has also been charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, heroin and cocaine along with three other gang members.
Reyes is part of a street gang known as “100k” or “Down the Hill,” which federal authorities have been investigating since winter 2022. The gang operates in Paterson’s first ward, primarily around North Main Street and Jefferson Street.
Undercover law enforcement officers spent eight months making controlled purchases from the group. The purchases led to the seizure of more than 100 grams of fentanyl in addition to smaller quantities of heroin and cocaine, officials said.
Then on July 28, 2023, Reyes allegedly pointed a gun at a mail carrier in Paterson in a failed attempt to steal the key used to open the mailboxes on the postal employee’s route, authorities said.
The other alleged gang members charged with drug distribution are Kyzeik Robinson, 18, also known by the street names of “Doo Doo,” “Sparks” and “King Sparks;” Michael Davis, 27, who also goes by “Baby Three;” and 24-year-old Jacim Pitts.
Robinson and Davis are also members of the 100k gang and Pitts belongs a separate gang known as “So Icey,” which is closely associated with 100k, authorities said.
Davis and Pitts appeared in Newark federal court this week and are now in federal custody. Reyes is scheduled to appear on Friday and Robinson is still at large.
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Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.
