Three New Jersey Men Convicted of Gang-Related Murders & Racketeering

Defendants, linked to a violent street gang, face life sentences for orchestrating murders and drug-related crimes.

A Newark federal jury has convicted three New Jersey men of racketeering conspiracy, multiple gang-related murders, and related firearms offenses. The convictions stem from a violent crime spree orchestrated by a street gang operating out of the Marion Gardens Housing Complex in Jersey City, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Myron Williams, 31, of Newark; Khalil Kelley, 25; and Roger Pickett, 24, both of Jersey City, were found guilty of charges that include racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, and discharging firearms during crimes of violence. The trio, known by their street names “Money,” “Billski,” and “Zy Gz,” now face mandatory life sentences.

“These three Marion street gang members brazenly committed three murders in the name of their gang. Two rival gang members were lured to their deaths through social media accounts that gang members used to impersonate the victims’ friends, and a third individual was killed during the course of a robbery committed against him. The senseless killing of these three men caused incredible danger to the community,” said U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger.

A Pattern of Violence and Intimidation

The defendants’ violent enterprise dates back to 2013 and includes three murders committed in 2021 and 2022:

• March 29, 2021: Kelley and other gang members lured a rival outside using fake Instagram messages. The victim was ambushed and fatally shot multiple times after opening his door. Pickett and Williams later helped Kelley and others escape, abandoning their vehicle in Newark.
• November 20, 2021: Williams and Pickett, with another accomplice, used similar tactics to lure a rival gang member. Once the victim stepped outside, he was fatally shot.
• November 1, 2022: During a narcotics transaction staged as a robbery, Pickett held the victim and an associate at gunpoint. A struggle ensued, leading Pickett to fatally shoot the victim. Pickett fled the scene, leaving evidence tying him to the crime.

Investigators also uncovered evidence of hundreds of narcotics transactions around the Marion Gardens Housing Complex during their months-long investigation. Williams was found in possession of controlled substances packaged for distribution during his arrest in March 2023.

Criminal Penalties

The racketeering conspiracy charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. Convictions for murder in aid of racketeering carry mandatory life sentences. Firearms charges add mandatory minimums of 10 years, with potential life sentences. Pickett was also convicted of Hobbs Act robbery, and Williams faced additional charges of drug possession with intent to distribute, each carrying up to 20 years in prison.

Sentencing for all three defendants is scheduled for April 22, 2025.

Collaborative Investigation

The investigation was conducted under the Jersey City Violent Crime Initiative (VCI), a task force formed in 2018 to address violent crime in the region. The VCI includes federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies working together to prioritize the prosecution of violent offenders.

Law enforcement agencies contributing to the investigation included the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, Jersey City Police Department, ATF, FBI, and U.S. Marshals Service.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Desiree Grace, John Maloy, and Javon Henry of the Organized Crime and Gangs Unit prosecuted the case.

This conviction underscores the VCI’s commitment to dismantling violent criminal enterprises and bringing justice to communities impacted by gang violence.