Essex County Woman Receives 10-Year Sentence for Drug Trafficking

In a significant legal proceeding, a Newark woman faces a decade behind bars for her role in a narcotics operation, highlighting ongoing efforts against drug-related crimes in New Jersey.

ESSEX COUNTY, N.J. - In a notable case from Essex County, New Jersey, 32-year-old Mahogany Hawkins of Newark has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for her involvement in drug trafficking, specifically cocaine and methamphetamine. The sentencing was handed down today by U.S. Circuit Judge Stephanos Bibas in Camden federal court, following Hawkins' conviction on charges of possession with intent to distribute these substances.

The conviction stemmed from an incident in March 2021, where law enforcement intercepted two FedEx parcels addressed to a fictitious "John Brown" at a Newark address, which were found to contain cocaine. An undercover operation followed, with an officer posing as a FedEx delivery person to deliver the parcels directly to Hawkins, who accepted them. Subsequent law enforcement entry into her apartment revealed a backroom locked by a keypad, used as a station for packaging drugs. This room contained the delivered parcels, methamphetamine pills, additional bags of cocaine, various drug packaging paraphernalia, and a loaded handgun with an extended magazine.

After the trial, Judge Bibas also imposed a five-year term of supervised release following Hawkins’ incarceration. U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger, acknowledging the collaborative efforts of Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection, and local Newark public safety and federal agencies, highlighted the significance of interagency cooperation in tackling drug distribution networks. The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebecca A. Sussman and Jake A. Nasar from the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark.