NEWARK, N.J. (1010 WINS) – Officials charged ten people over their roles as members and associates of New Jersey-based street gang involved in the distribution of drugs, including heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine base, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced on Thursday.
The suspects are reputed members of Paterson's "UpTop" street gang, which operates primarily in the Fourth Ward section and accused of distributing heroin, fentanyl, as well as cocaine, according to officials.
Members of UpTop sell heroin that is frequently mixed with fentanyl, a potent, synthetic opioid that is approximately 50 times stronger than heroin, authorities said.
Federal prosecutors added that gang members would compete with each other over turf at times but also worked together to ensure outsiders were unable to distribute drugs in their territory.
Following an investigation from January 2020 through April 29, 2021, officials identified the following suspects:
- Corey Boyd, 23, of Paterson
- Leo Edwards, 27, of Paterson
- Kwame Ellis, 30, of Paterson
- Sean Morgan, 21, of Paterson
- Brent Staton, 20, of Paterson
- Kassan Drakeford, 31, of Paterson
- Stefan Cameron, 25, of Hackensack
- Devin Kyle, 21, of Paterson
- Edwin Diaz, 19, of Paterson
- Anthony Herring, 38, of Paterson
Boyd, Edwards, Ellis, Morgan, Staton, Drakeford, and Cameron are charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine base although Ellis remains at large, authorities said.
Also charged on other charges, are Kyle, Diaz, and Herring. They will have their initial appearances on a date to be determined.
"In the onset of the pandemic, borders were closed, supply was low, demand was high, and you had infighting among different dealers," Mayor Andre Sayegh said. "They don't want to go out of business, and that, in my opion, resulted in a spike of gun violence."
If convicted for conspiracy, the charges carries a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison and a fine of at least $5 million, with a mandatory minimum prison sentence of five years.
