Montclair Man Sentenced to Four Life Terms for Murders and Leading Drug Trafficking Enterprise

Michael Healy, convicted in 2024, directed murders and operated a multi-state narcotics network linked to the Bloods street gang.

A Montclair man has been sentenced to four life terms plus an additional 360 months in federal prison for committing and ordering multiple murders and for leading a large-scale narcotics trafficking enterprise, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced on April 23, 2025.

Michael Healy, 44, was convicted in April 2024 following a four-week jury trial in Newark federal court presided over by U.S. District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz. Healy was found guilty of racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute narcotics, conspiracy to murder a federal witness, three counts of murder in aid of racketeering, and related firearms offenses.

“Michael Healy orchestrated three murders in order to silence the victims in this case. When Healy believed that someone in his drug trafficking enterprise was cooperating with law enforcement, he demonstrated that he was willing to go to the greatest lengths possible – to commit multiple acts of murder – to protect his profitable enterprise. This sentence will prevent Healy from harming any other members of our community and will send a message that attacks on the justice system will not be tolerated.” - U.S. Attorney Alina Habba.

According to court records and trial evidence, Healy was a member of the Tree Top PIRU set of the Bloods gang in Maryland before forming his own criminal enterprise, the Healy Drug Trafficking Enterprise (DTE), around 2012. The organization, based in and around Newark, distributed significant quantities of cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and marijuana transported from California to New Jersey using private aircraft, hidden compartments in vehicles, and the U.S. Postal Service. The narcotics were processed at various stash houses across New Jersey, with distribution networks involving Bloods gang members in East Orange.

In February 2018, Healy learned that a co-conspirator, identified in court documents as "A.S.," was cooperating with law enforcement. Healy ordered the Bloods members in East Orange to kill the informant. On February 3, 2018, conspirators mistakenly killed a bystander, referred to as "Victim-1," outside a residence in Bloomfield. On March 12, 2018, they subsequently killed "A.S." while he was walking his dog. Later, on April 6, 2018, Healy personally shot and killed another associate, "J.C.," in Newark, fearing that "J.C." might also cooperate with authorities.

Healy received life sentences on charges including racketeering conspiracy, murder of a federal witness, and drug trafficking conspiracy, which are set to run concurrently but consecutively to life sentences for each murder. Additional firearm convictions added 360 months of consecutive imprisonment.

“Healy spent much of his life building an illegal drug trafficking enterprise, fueled by greed and violence,” FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence Reilly said. “He used his power to destroy communities through the distribution of poisonous narcotics and murdered those who he perceived as a threat to his empire. Now, he will spend the rest of his life in federal prison, where his power and money won’t matter.”

Other individuals involved in the murders also received substantial prison sentences. Thomas Zimmerman was sentenced to 37 years, Tyquan Daniels to 35 years, and Ali Hill to 25 years. Leevander Wade, who admitted involvement in all three murders, was sentenced to 36 years and 8 months.

U.S. Attorney Habba credited the investigative efforts of the Newark FBI Joint Organized Crime Task Force and multiple local and regional law enforcement agencies, including police departments in Newark, East Orange, and Montclair, as well as the Essex and Union County Prosecutor’s Offices.

The government’s prosecution team was led by Senior Trial Counsel Robert L. Frazer and Assistant U.S. Attorney Samantha C. Fasanello.