NEWARK, N.J. (1010 WINS) – Officials charged nine people for their roles in an open-air drug market operation that sold cocaine and fentanyl in a city housing complex since last summer, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced Thursday.
According to the criminal complaint, Robert Covington, aka "Nachie," 55; Korey Smith, aka "Murda," 36: Jeffrey Workman, aka "Rah," 53; Yvonne Jackson, 49; Carlos Stokes, aka "Ab," 54; Karen Gamble, 50; and Alaa Covington, 21, are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 40 grams of fentanyl.
They are also charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine.
Smith along with Leroy Baxter III, 55, and William Lane, 57, face additional charges for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin.
The federal investigation began in August, according to the complaint.
Court documents allege that from August 2020 through March 2021, multiple individuals were involved in selling fentanyl and cocaine in an open-air narcotics market in Bradley Court Housing Complex in Newark.
The investigation revealed that Robert Covington was one of the leaders and organizers of two separate drug-trafficking organizations (DTOs) for distribution of fentanyl and cocaine in or around Bradley Court.
Covington allegedly purchased powder cocaine and fentanyl from various sources of supply, then "cooked" powder cocaine into crack cocaine or directed others to do so, and used various "stash houses" to support the organizations, and employ multiple drug dealers including Workman, Williamson, Stokes, and Alaa Covington, among others, to distribute fentanyl and cocaine to the area surrounding Bradley Court., the complaint said.
He was also allegedly involved in at least twenty controlled purchases and was observed nearly every week throughout the investigation running the operation from a North Munn Avenue residence.
Smith was allegedly a fentanyl supplier who also engaged in distributing heroin in and around his residence on Fairmount Avenue in Newark from at least January 2021 to the present, along with Baxter, Lane, and others.
Baxter is Smith's father, according to the complaint.
Eight of the defendants are expected to appear before a judge by videoconference Thursday, authorities said. Stokes remains at large, according to officials.
The conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, and a $5 million fine.
The heroin and cocaine conspiracy charges each have a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
