Three members of a Jersey City street gang have been charged for their involvement in a drug distribution organization and related firearms offenses, according to U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger. The defendants, Rodney Broadway, Parish George, and Dejahn Ingram, were all arrested on January 19th, 2023.
The three defendants are associated with a neighborhood street gang that operates in and around the Salem Lafayette Apartments in Jersey City. At the time of their arrests, George and Ingram each possessed a loaded firearm. The law enforcement also found a significant amount of cocaine, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and other drug paraphernalia from multiple residences associated with the defendants.
All three defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute a large amount of cocaine, a federal offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison and a maximum term of 40 years in prison. Additionally, George and Ingram are charged with unlawful possession of firearms as convicted felons, and Broadway is charged with unlawful possession of ammunition as a convicted felon. All three defendants appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge André M. Espinosa in Newark federal court and were detained.
The investigation was conducted as part of the Jersey City Violent Crime Initiative (VCI), which was formed in 2018 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Jersey City Police Department, for the sole purpose of combatting violent crime in and around Jersey City.
It is important to note that the charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. However, this case serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to combat drug distribution and violent crime in the Jersey City area. The VCI is dedicated to working with local, state, and federal agencies to ensure the safety of the community by targeting and prosecuting violent offenders.
