Somerset Man Convicted on Drug and Firearm Charges Following Highway Arrest

Malachi A. Muhammad found guilty of trafficking methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, and illegally possessing multiple firearms after being discovered unconscious on Route 1.

LAWRENCE TWP, NJ — A Somerset County man was convicted on multiple federal charges related to drug trafficking and illegal firearm possession, following an incident in which police found him unresponsive in a vehicle on a New Jersey highway, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

Malachi A. Muhammad, 50, of Somerset, was found guilty by a federal jury on five counts: possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl and heroin, and cocaine; possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and unlawful possession of firearms by a convicted felon. The conviction came after a one-week trial before U.S. District Judge Georgette Castner in Trenton. The jury returned its verdict after fewer than two hours of deliberation.

“This verdict underscores our commitment to keeping guns out of the hands of drug traffickers and dangerous drugs like methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin and cocaine out of our communities. My message is clear: if you jeopardize the safety and security of New Jerseyans, we will hold you accountable. Our office and our law enforcement partners won’t rest until we do.” - U.S. Attorney Alina Habba

According to court documents and trial evidence, the incident occurred on August 19, 2021, when officers from the Lawrence Township Police Department responded to calls about a vehicle stopped in the southbound lanes of Route 1 near Quaker Bridge Mall. Officers found Muhammad alone and initially unresponsive in the driver’s seat. Upon waking him, they observed the handle of a handgun between his legs and arrested him at the scene.

A search of the vehicle uncovered a cache of illegal drugs and weapons: 91 pills of methamphetamine, 468 wax folds containing fentanyl and heroin, five bags of cocaine, five additional firearms, including two semi-automatic rifles, and more than 150 rounds of ammunition.

Each of the three drug trafficking convictions carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million. The firearms possession in furtherance of drug trafficking charge carries a mandatory minimum of five years to be served consecutively with other sentences, a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, and a $250,000 fine. The unlawful possession of firearms by a felon carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.

“This conviction is an example of ATF’s dedication to working with our state and local partners in identifying, investigating, and apprehending criminals who prey upon innocent citizens and lessen the quality of life in our neighborhoods through the trafficking of narcotics and the illegal possession and use of firearms," said Newark ATF Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks, Jr. “This is a reminder that there is no safe haven for those that wreak havoc or contribute to crime in our communities. ATF will never waver in our commitment to protecting the people we serve and public safety.”

The investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Lawrence Township Police Department, the New Jersey State Police, and the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey A. Agnew and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Garelick of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Trenton are prosecuting the case.