Newark, NJ. Aerial of Newark, NJ and NX Bridge over the Passaic River

NEWARK, N.J. — The leader of one of Newark’s largest open-air drug markets was sentenced Tuesday to 168 months in federal prison for overseeing a major narcotics operation that distributed heroin and crack cocaine around the clock, authorities said.

Shaheed Blake, 41, also known as “Sha Gotti,” was the last of 26 defendants sentenced in the long-running case, which targeted a gang-affiliated drug network operating near the Newark-Irvington border. He will also serve five years of supervised release.

Federal prosecutors said Blake and co-leader Anderson Hutchinson, 41, controlled a high-volume drug trade that generated up to $13,000 in a single shift. The organization used fortified abandoned houses near a residential area and an elementary school as drug dens, selling narcotics through a hole in a wall to customers outside.

Authorities said the group, known as the “CKarter Boys,” was linked to the Bloods street gang and used firearms to protect their operations. A joint investigation led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and local law enforcement resulted in the conviction of all 26 members, who received sentences ranging from 30 months to 168 months.

Shaheed Blake, a/k/a “Sha Gotti,” a/k/a “Sha,” a/k/a “Bruh,” 41, was sentenced to 168 months’ imprisonment followed by 5 years’ supervised release by U.S. District Judge Evelyn Padin in Newark, New Jersey. He was the last among his 25 co-defendants to be sentenced in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey in Newark.

Blake’s 25 conspirators were previously sentenced as follows:

Anderson Hutchinson was sentenced to 168 months’ imprisonment;
Jabaar Blake was sentenced to 163 months’ imprisonment;
Jason Colon was sentenced to 144 months’ imprisonment;
Keyenn Rodgers was sentenced to 150 months’ imprisonment;
William Teal was sentenced to 132 months’ imprisonment;
Brian White was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment;
Todd Garrett was sentenced to 84 months’ imprisonment;
Anthony Bowens was sentenced to 88 months’ imprisonment;
Dorrell Blake was sentenced to 84 months’ imprisonment;
Daquan Lockhart was sentenced to 90 months’ imprisonment;
Aldoray McClain was sentenced to 72 months’ imprisonment;
Sharif Davis was sentenced to 72 months’ imprisonment;
Roger Thomas was sentenced to 70 months’ imprisonment;
Lamont Pugh was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment;
David Rogers was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment;
Hanif Yarrell was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment;
Aaron Watson was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment;
Marquise O’Neal was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment;
Jaleel Metz was sentenced to 66 months’ imprisonment;
Bernard Brown was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment;
Jesse Scott was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment;
Rasheem Langley was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment;
Shadesasha Ford was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment;
Linwood Lyles was sentenced to 42 months’ imprisonment; and
Andrew Knox was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment.

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