Essex County Man Admits to Drug Trafficking and Illegal Firearm Possession

Naiem Moore faces significant prison time for possessing and distributing cocaine and heroin, as well as possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

NEWARK, N.J. – Naiem Moore, 34, of Newark, admitted to possessing cocaine and heroin for distribution and illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Moore entered his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark federal court.

Moore was charged with two counts of being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to court documents and statements, on January 14, 2021, law enforcement officers recovered glassine envelopes containing heroin, jugs containing cocaine, and a Chrome Llama Max I firearm loaded with four rounds of ammunition and two controlled expansion rounds from Moore’s vehicle. Additionally, on September 28, 2020, Moore had used the same firearm in a shooting and attempted assault.

The narcotics offense carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $1 million. Each count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison. The count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime has a statutory mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, which must run consecutively to any other sentence imposed, and a maximum potential penalty of life in prison. Each firearm count also carries a maximum fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for December 18, 2024.

This investigation was part of the Newark Violent Crimes Initiative (VCI), established in August 2017 to combat violent crime in and around Newark through collaboration among 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, N.J. State Board of Parole, Union County Jail, N.J. State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center, N.J. Department of Corrections, East Orange Police Department, and Irvington Police Department.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited officers of the Newark Police Division, under the direction of Director Fritz Fragé; special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark; and the Bloomfield Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director Samuel A. DeMaio, for their roles in the investigation leading to Moore's guilty plea.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney DeNae Thomas of the Health Care Fraud Unit.