Nine alleged members of a Bloods gang in Newark are facing federal charges after they were accused of selling large quantities of fentanyl and other hard drugs.
All of the defendants are now in federal custody and are scheduled to appear in Newark federal court on various dates, the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of New Jersey said in a news release on Wednesday.
The following people have been charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances:
- Calvin Swinton, aka “40,” age 32
- Lance Yarbough, aka “L-Boog,” age 42
- Jahad Gorsuch, aka “Hadi Mu,” age 47
- Coyette Elliott, aka “Q,” age 56
- Derrick Davidson, aka “Lefty,” age 55
- Rashem Batts, aka “Dae Dae,” age 48
- Kiion Scovil, aka “Skrapp,” age 35
- Tishawn Scovil, aka “Ty,” age 33
- Amanda Brown, aka “Manda,” age 32
All nine defendants are residents of Essex County and either belong to or are associated with a set of the Bloods gang known as “Sex, Money, Murder,” federal authorities said.
The group was part of a drug trafficking network that sold large quantities of heroin, cocaine and fentanyl around 18th Avenue, West End Avenue and Alexander Street in Newark, according to a criminal complaint signed by FBI Special Agent Michael Amaturo.
FBI agents worked with the local law enforcement to investigate the group as part of the Newark Violent Crime Initiative. Investigators spent months conducting surveillance on the gang members and making controlled purchases of illegal drugs from the group.
The investigation found that they had sold more than 400 grams of fentanyl, as well as large quantities of heroin and cocaine, federal prosecutors said.
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Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.
