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2020 News Release

State Police Arrest 24 and Seize Guns, Drugs and Ammo

Arrests Stopped a Group of Alleged Gang Members Planning Retaliatory Shooting

Trenton, N.J. - Colonel Patrick J. Callahan and Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced today that the New Jersey State Police have arrested 24 suspects for various drug, weapon, and local ordinance offenses and as a result stopped a group of gang members allegedly preparing a series of retaliatory shootings.
Through various investigative means, detectives with the State Police Crime Suppression Central Unit determined that a group of armed gang members was gathering at a residence on Tyrell Avenue to plan a series of retaliatory shootings.  Detectives observed several members of the group to be in possession of handguns and as a result obtained a search warrant for the residence.
On Wednesday, November 25, members of the State Police T.E.A.M.S., K-9, Aviation, and Crime Suppression Central Units along with assistance from the Trenton Police Department, Hamilton Township Police Department, and Ewing Township Police Department executed a search warrant at the Tyrell Avenue residence and found several members of the group to be in possession of multiple handguns, drugs, high capacity magazines and in violation of local ordinances.  Detectives arrested 24 suspects without incident.

As a result of the search, detectives seized the following evidence:

• Century Arms 9mm semi-automatic handgun
• 2 Taurus 9mm semi-automatic handguns
• Taurus .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun
• Taurus .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun
• Defaced 9mm semi-automatic handgun
• Stinger 6mm handgun
• 4 extended magazines
• Hollow-point ammunition
• 19 cell phones
• 9 bricks of heroin
• 8 grams of crack cocaine
• 1 gram of marijuana

Ten of the suspects were lodged at the Mercer County Correctional Center and three juveniles were lodged at the Middlesex County Juvenile Detention Center.  The remaining 11 suspects were charged with violating local ordinances and were released pending court. 

The following were charged criminally:

Samuel Vincent, 25, Trenton, N.J.

• Possession of a handgun
• Possession of a handgun during a CDS offense
• Certain persons not to possess weapons
• Possession of handgun for unlawful purpose
• Possession of heroin with intent to distribute
• Possession of a high-capacity magazine
• Possession of hollow point ammunition

Jaheim Myles, 19, Trenton, N.J.

• Possession of a handgun during a CDS offense
• Possession of heroin with intent to distribute
• Possession of hollow point ammunition
• Possession of a high-capacity magazine
• Possession of a defaced firearm

Jerome Bennett, 19, Burlington, N.J.

• Possession of a handgun during a CDS offense
• Possession of heroin with intent to distribute
• Possession of hollow point ammunition
• Possession of a high-capacity magazine
• Possession of a defaced firearm

Antwan Tootle, 22, Trenton, N.J.

• Possession of a handgun during a CDS offense
• Possession of heroin with intent to distribute
• Possession of hollow point ammunition
• Possession of a high-capacity magazine
• Possession of a defaced firearm

Quameir Billups-Taylor, 22, Trenton, N.J.

• Possession of a handgun during a CDS offense
• Possession of heroin with intent to distribute
• Possession of hollow point ammunition
• Possession of a high-capacity magazine
• Possession of a defaced firearm

Dontrell Wilkins, 21, Trenton, N.J.

• Possession of a handgun during a CDS offense
• Possession of heroin with intent to distribute
• Possession of hollow point ammunition
• Possession of a high-capacity magazine
• Possession of a defaced firearm

Anthony Robbins, 20, Trenton, N.J.

• Possession of a handgun during a CDS offense
• Possession of heroin with intent to distribute
• Possession of hollow point ammunition
• Possession of a high-capacity magazine
• Possession of a defaced firearm

Jahad Blackshear, 19, Trenton, N.J.

• Possession of a handgun during a CDS offense
• Possession of heroin with intent to distribute
• Possession of hollow point ammunition
• Possession of a high-capacity magazine
• Possession of a defaced firearm

Terron Bazemore, 20, Trenton, N.J.

• Possession of a handgun
• Possession of a handgun during a CDS offense
• Receiving stolen property
• Possession of hollow point ammunition
• Possession of a high-capacity magazine

Stafford Knowles, 18, Trenton, N.J.

• Possession of a handgun
• Possession of a handgun during a CDS offense
• Receiving stolen property
• Possession of hollow point ammunition
• Possession of a high-capacity magazine

Juvenile Male, 17, Trenton, N.J.

• Possession of a handgun during a CDS offense
• Possession of heroin with intent to distribute
• Possession of hollow point ammunition
• Possession of a high-capacity magazine
• Possession of a defaced firearm

Juvenile Male, 16, Hamilton, N.J.

• Possession of a handgun during a CDS offense
• Possession of heroin with intent to distribute
• Possession of hollow point ammunition
• Possession of a high-capacity magazine
• Possession of a defaced firearm

Juvenile Male, 16, Trenton, N.J.

• Possession of a handgun
• Possession of a handgun for unlawful purpose
• Receiving stolen property
• Possession of hollow point ammunition
• Possession of a high-capacity magazine

“Throughout this pandemic, New Jersey law enforcement officers have been doing all they can to combat gun violence in our cities by arresting violent gang members and seizing illegal weapons, and these latest arrests in Trenton are just another strong example,” said Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal. “Earlier this month, the State Police arrested two men allegedly trafficking illegal guns into Trenton from South Carolina, and in June, during the prior spike in COVID, we announced the Division of Criminal Justice's arrests of 16 alleged members and associates of the ‘Get Money Boys,’ a violent street gang linked to multiple shootings in Trenton. Meanwhile, we are also engaging in community outreach like the virtual town hall we held in Trenton in June to discuss violence reduction strategies. We will continue to take a holistic and collaborative approach to public safety in our Capital City.”

“How and where the illegal guns seized in this operation were going to be used thankfully remains an untold story, but what is certain is that it would have ended in tragedy,” said Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police.  “The prompt response by the detectives in our State Police Crime Suppression Central Unit and our law enforcement partners undoubtedly saved lives.  We remain committed to working shoulder to shoulder with our law enforcement partners, community leaders, and city residents to build and maintain safer neighborhoods in Trenton.”

"We commend the State Police on this successful operation and look forward to continuing to work with them to eradicate violent crime and to help keep our communities safe," said Veronica Allende, Director of the Division of Criminal Justice. "Our Deputy Attorneys General stand ready to prosecute these defendants to bring them to justice."

“This case is a testament to the success of our partnership with the N.J. State Police, which continues to help our city at a time when we need it the most,” said Trenton Police Director Sheilah A. Coley. “I’m sure our residents will feel a bit safer knowing that multiple law enforcement entities are operating in Trenton at this very moment, working day and night to get these guns and drugs out of our streets before they cause further bloodshed.”
The case is being prosecuted by the Division of Criminal Justice.

Charges are mere accusations, and the accused are considered innocent until proven guilty.

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