Convicted Felon Admits to Drug Trafficking and Possessing Assault Rifles

Convicted felon Azmar “Bizzy” Carter pleads guilty to narcotics and firearms offenses as part of Operation Orange crackdown.

Azmar Carter, a 32-year-old East Orange resident and convicted felon, pleaded guilty to federal charges of drug trafficking and illegal possession of firearms, including two assault rifles, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Carter, known as “Bizzy,” admitted his role in distributing cocaine and heroin and was found in possession of a Draco AK-47, a Smith & Wesson AR rifle, and a .40 caliber pistol during a law enforcement raid in 2021.

The guilty plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo, marking another victory in the federal government’s efforts to combat violent crime in Essex County.

Drugs, Firearms, and Cash Seized

Carter’s activities came under scrutiny in 2021 when authorities launched an investigation into a drug trafficking organization operating primarily in Orange, New Jersey. Over the course of the operation, Carter twice sold cocaine to undercover law enforcement officers, in May and July of that year.

A subsequent search of Carter’s home and vehicle on August 18, 2021, uncovered a cache of illegal items:

• One Draco AK-47 rifle.
• One Smith & Wesson AR rifle, both equipped with high-capacity magazines.
• A .40 caliber pistol.
• Ninety-four rounds of ammunition.
• Distribution quantities of heroin and cocaine.
• $7,177 in cash believed to be proceeds from drug sales.

Severe Penalties Loom

Carter faces significant legal consequences. The drug trafficking charges carry a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and fines of up to $1 million. The firearms offense for possession by a convicted felon could add another 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Sentencing is scheduled for April 30, 2024.

Operation Orange and the Newark Violent Crime Initiative

Carter’s arrest and prosecution are part of Operation Orange, a component of the Newark Violent Crime Initiative (VCI). The VCI, formed in 2017, is a collaborative effort involving federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to tackle violent crime in Newark and surrounding areas.

Participating agencies include the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the FBI, the DEA, and local police departments in Newark, East Orange, Orange, and Belleville.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited the cooperation and investigative work of multiple law enforcement agencies, including:

• ATF Newark Division led by Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks Jr.
• Orange Police Department, directed by Police Director Todd Warren and Chief Vincent Vitiello.
• East Orange Police Department, led by Chief Phyllis Bindi.
• Elizabeth Police Department, under Chief Giacomo Sacca and Police Director Earl J. Graves.
• Newark Police Department, led by Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda and Chief Sharonda Morris.

Cracking Down on Violent Crime

Operation Orange and the VCI aim to identify and prosecute offenders whose actions endanger public safety, with a particular focus on removing firearms from the hands of those prohibited from possessing them.

As Carter awaits sentencing, law enforcement agencies continue their crackdown on violent crime and drug trafficking across Essex County. Cases like Carter’s highlight the importance of collaboration and resource-sharing among law enforcement to reduce violence and disrupt criminal networks.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Levin, Chief of the General Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case.