Five Jersey City Marion Gardens gang members pleaded guilty to racketeering, violent crimes in aid of racketeering, drug trafficking, and firearms offenses, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger announced.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Jervon Morris, also known as “Sticky,” 35; Kevin Williams, aka “KK,” aka “Kay Kay,” 30; Jakeem Gibson-Madison, aka “Beanz,” 29; K’shawn Jackson, aka “Lil Kay,” 23; and Terick Rogers, aka “Moot,” 32, all of Jersey City, all pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi in Newark federal court to racketeering conspiracy and related crimes.
Morris and Gibson-Madison will be sentenced on August 20th, Rogers and Williams will be sentenced on August 21st, and Jackson will be sentenced on August 22nd.
“Criminal street gangs – whether they are structured organizations with international reach or, as here, neighborhood based and local – cause devastating damage to the community. Two of these defendants murdered a victim and all the defendants caused senseless violence and shootings and funneled dangerous drugs for personal profit,” Sellinger said in a statement.
“These defendants will now deservedly face significant sentences in prison as a result of the harm they’ve caused.”
The defendants are all members and associates of the neighborhood street gang associated with the Marion Gardens Housing Complex, known as “Marion” and “300,” which routinely distributes cocaine and heroin, among other controlled substances, in and around the Marion Gardens Housing Complex, the criminal complaint says.
Members and associates of the gang also engaged in acts of violence, including numerous assaults, shootings, and murders, which targeted rival gang members and others, including the following:
On July 28th, 2011, Morris and Williams, along with another member of the Marion Gardens street gang, murdered a victim in the area of Gifford Avenue and Bergen Avenue.
On November 5th, 2017, members and associates of the Marion Gardens street gang shot a victim in the area of Van Nostrand Avenue and Bergen Avenue.
On February 7th, 2018, Williams and another member of the Marion Gardens street gang assaulted a victim R.B. in the area of Summit Avenue and Magnolia Avenue.
On June 30th, 2018, Rogers, Jackson, and another member of the enterprise shot five people while celebrating “Meech Day” in honor of a deceased fellow gang member.
On January 9th, 2019, Gibson-Madison, with another member of the enterprise, traveled to the area of Grant Avenue and Ocean Avenue to target a rival gang member, at which time three victims were shot at, two of whom were hit.
On June 9th, 2019, after being shot at by rival gang member, Kevin Williams brandished a firearm and attempted to shoot back at the rival gang member.
Lakief Grayson, aka “LaLa,” previously pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and related charges in July 2023.
Charges remain pending against Jalil Holmes, aka “Broad Day,” aka “BD,” and Willie Williams, aka “Willz,” both of whom are scheduled to appear in court in the coming weeks.
“Each of these defendants threatened public safety and instilled fear in neighborhoods throughout Jersey City,” added Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said.
“The outcome here reaffirms a commitment by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office to utilize all its resources and law enforcement partners to ensure justice is served on behalf of victims and the communities affected by these senseless crimes.”
Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, investigators of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Jersey City Police Department, for the investigation leading to the charges.
This investigation was conducted as part of the Jersey City Violent Crime Initiative (VCI).
The 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.
