Newark Man Sentenced to 65 Months for Role in Drug Trafficking Organization

Ali Carney, 46, of Newark, received a 65-month prison sentence for conspiring to distribute narcotics, including fentanyl and heroin, and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, according to U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger.

NEWARK, N.J. – A Newark man was sentenced to 65 months in prison today for his involvement in a drug trafficking organization, announced U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger. Ali Carney, 46, of Newark, admitted to his role in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine. Carney had pleaded guilty on January 17, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton, who handed down the sentence in Newark federal court.

From April 2021 through October 2022, Carney and other members of the Grape Street Crips gang operated a drug trafficking organization controlling the drug trade around the Oscar Miles Village housing complex in Newark. Carney confessed to selling controlled substances almost daily during this period. In addition to his prison sentence, Carney will serve three years of supervised release.

All 11 of Carney’s co-defendants—Thomas Barney, Najuwan Blake-Williams, Altray Brown, Najee Carney, Tyrone Cradle, Jaquan McAllister, Ikaim McSwain, Latif Terry, Shaquan Ward, Taji Williams, and Zaid Williams—have also pleaded guilty to their respective roles in the conspiracy.

A year-long investigation revealed the organization distributed over a kilogram of fentanyl-laced heroin and over 280 grams of crack cocaine. Multiple firearms used in the narcotics trade were seized from the conspiracy members.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited the successful investigation to the efforts of special agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the New Jersey State Police, the U.S. Marshal Service, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, and the Newark Police Department.

This investigation was part of the Newark Violent Crime Initiative (VCI), formed in August 2017 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, and the City of Newark’s Department of Public Safety. The VCI aims to combat violent crime in and around Newark by pooling resources from federal, state, county, and city agencies. The VCI includes the U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI, ATF, DEA New Jersey Division, U.S. Marshals, Newark Department of Public Safety, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Essex County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Parole, Union County Jail, New Jersey State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center, New Jersey Department of Corrections, East Orange Police Department, and Irvington Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samantha C. Fasanello and Olta Bejleri of the Criminal Division in Newark represented the government in this case.