Two Jersey City gang members have been convicted of three murders dating back to January 16th, 2017, including a pregnant woman, U.S. Attorney’s Office Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“These convictions hold accountable violent gang members who carried out a calculated, execution-style triple homicide, including the murder of a young pregnant woman,” Lamparello said in a statement.
“The defendants planned these killings with chilling deliberation and then attempted to silence their own associate to avoid justice. Today’s verdicts make clear that this level of brutality will be met with the full force of federal prosecution, and that those who terrorize our communities will face severe consequences.”
Following a month-long jury trial, Markell Brown, also known as “Sayboy,” 37, of Jersey City, was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, three counts of murder in aid of racketeering, three counts of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and three counts of causing death through use of a firearm.
Additionally, Terence Shaw, aka “Sweet Meat,” 37, of Jersey City, was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, two counts of murder in aid of racketeering, two counts of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and two counts of causing death through use of a firearm.
With respect to Shaw, the jury could not come to a unanimous verdict as to one count of murder in aid of racketeering, one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and one count of causing death through use of a firearm.
On January 16, 2017, Brown and Shaw murdered a rival gang member with whom they had been feuding, along with the rival gang member’s pregnant girlfriend, according to court documents.
Brown then murdered one of their own associates, who had accompanied them to commit the murders.
The duo planned the murders through, among other things, orchestrating the use of a stolen U-Haul truck and purchasing two-way walkie-talkie radios to use during the murders.
Brown and Shaw then used their associate to obtain access to the rival gang member’s apartment.
After entering that residence on Fulton Avenue in Jersey City shortly before 10:00 p.m., they executed the rival gang member, shooting him in the back of the head, the left arm, and the right shoulder.
They also executed the 25-year-old woman, shooting her in the back of the head and the chest. As Brown left the Fulton Avenue apartment, he shot his and Shaw’s associate in the chest to eliminate the possibility that he would provide information to law enforcement.
The conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Brown and Shaw face mandatory life sentences for each count of murder in aid of racketeering.
For each count of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, they face mandatory consecutive sentences of ten years’ imprisonment.
The counts charging Brown and Shaw with causing death through use of a firearm carry maximum life sentences. Sentencing is scheduled for April 22nd, 2026.
Lamparello credited the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, the Jersey City Police Department, as well as special agents of the FBI, Newark Field Division, with the investigation leading to the charges and arrests.
