NEWARK, N.J. — Twenty-four individuals connected to the Bloods-affiliated gang “Sex, Money, Murder” were charged Wednesday with narcotics and firearms offenses following a 14-month federal investigation into drug trafficking at the Bradley Court Housing Complex.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey announced the arrests, which target a criminal organization accused of distributing fentanyl, heroin, and crack cocaine in Newark. The investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Newark Police Department, and multiple federal, state, and local agencies.
The defendants, all from Essex County, face one count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics. Several also face additional weapons charges, including possession of a machinegun and illegal possession of firearms by a convicted felon.
“For far too long, the Bloods have overtaken the Bradley Court Housing Complex — turning its courtyards and residential buildings into a hub for pumping deadly fentanyl into the city of Newark,” said U.S. Attorney Alina Habba.
The gang subset operating in the complex, known as Munn Block or Tombstone Gang, is part of a broader alliance with another Bloods faction called Voorhees. Members used social media platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, and Telegram to promote the gang and intimidate rivals and witnesses.
Authorities said law enforcement monitored the area for over a year, conducted controlled drug buys, reviewed phone records, and seized narcotics. Three defendants are accused of possessing a machinegun used in a June 17 shooting in rival gang territory near Mapes Avenue.
Each defendant in the drug conspiracy case faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life, along with a $10 million fine. The firearm charges carry separate penalties of up to 15 years.
The investigation was part of the Newark Violent Crime Initiative and Operation Take Back America, a coordinated federal effort targeting organized criminal activity nationwide.