East Orange Man Sentenced to Over Six Years in Federal Prison for Drug and Weapons Offenses

Cocaine trafficking and illegal possession of assault rifles among charges in Operation Orange investigation

An East Orange man was sentenced on June 10, 2025, to 73 months in federal prison following his conviction for multiple narcotics and firearms offenses uncovered during a multi-agency operation targeting drug trafficking in Essex County.

Azmar Carter, also known as “Bizzy,” 32, pleaded guilty to charges including cocaine distribution, possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine, and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon. U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo handed down the sentence in Newark federal court, which also includes three years of supervised release following imprisonment.

The charges stemmed from a 2021 investigation into a drug trafficking organization active in and around Orange, New Jersey. According to court documents and proceedings, Carter was found to have distributed cocaine on two separate occasions—May and July of that year—to undercover law enforcement. A subsequent search of his East Orange residence and vehicle on August 18, 2021, uncovered a Draco AK-47 rifle, a Smith & Wesson AR-style rifle, a .40 caliber pistol, 94 rounds of ammunition, narcotics packaged for distribution, and approximately $7,177 in cash.

This case is part of Operation Orange, a broader law enforcement effort conducted under the Newark Violent Crime Initiative (VCI). Established in 2017, the VCI unites federal, state, county, and municipal agencies to combat violent crime in the greater Newark area through coordinated investigations and prosecutions.

The investigation involved the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), multiple local police departments including those in Orange, East Orange, Elizabeth, Newark, and Belleville, and was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Levin, Chief of the OCDETF/Narcotics Unit in Newark.

Authorities emphasize that collaborative initiatives like VCI are essential to disrupting the cycle of drug-related violence and holding armed offenders accountable.