24 people from a Jersey City street gang have been charged for their respective roles in alleged crimes including conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to distribute several drugs, and financial crimes, among other things, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger announced.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The defendants are scheduled to appear this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark III in Newark federal court; four defendants remain at large.
“Street gangs that are allegedly engaged in violence and narcotics distribution drastically diminish quality of life for those who live in affected communities,” Sellinger said in a statement.
“As alleged, members and associates of the Booker T street gang committed serious crimes, including using a firearm to commit a robbery, conspiring to distribute fentanyl, and conspiring to commit bank fraud. The charges in this case against 24 defendants demonstrate that, along with our law enforcement partners, we will work tirelessly to root out alleged gang-related criminality in order to make our communities safer.”
Several defendants are members and associates of a neighborhood-based street gang that operates in the area of the Booker T. Washington Housing Complex in Jersey City.
The Booker T street gang is responsible for multiple acts of gang-motivated violence in Jersey City, including homicides and shootings.
The investigation revealed that the gang runs a drug trafficking operation in and around the housing complex and distributes large quantities of controlled substances, including heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine.
11 members and associates of the organization are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin, more than 40 grams of fentanyl, and a quantity of cocaine.
Additionally, from December 2022 through May 2024, members, associates, and individuals affiliated with the Booker T street gang engaged in a fraudulent check scheme.
The defendants charged in the bank fraud conspiracy obtained fraudulent checks, including checks they had printed; stolen checks they had altered; or checks that had been purchased from, or traded with, other conspirators or third parties in exchange for a fee or percentage of profits.
The defendants then deposited the fraudulent checks into bank accounts that they controlled in order to gain access to the funds. The bank fraud scheme resulted in losses exceeding $100,000. Fifteen defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
Two individuals associated with the Booker T street gang – Juan Hemingway, aka “Hort,” and Stephon Murphy, aka “Turk,” are charged with Hobbs Act robbery and unlawful use of a firearm arising from an armed robbery that occurred on May 6, 2024, during which Hemingway and Murphy robbed the victim of items including controlled substances.
The investigation was conducted as part of the Jersey City Violent Crime Initiative (VCI).
The Jersey City VCI was formed in 2018 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Jersey City Police Department for the sole purpose of combatting violent crime in and around Jersey City.
As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate and pool resources to prosecute violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community.
“These arrests underscore the importance of collaborative work in law enforcement. No one should feel unsafe in their own neighborhood, and the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office remains committed to addressing the public safety concerns of our residents,” added Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez.
“By working closely with our local, state, and federal partners, we are expanding and sharing resources that will ensure that those who commit a crime are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
