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Leader of Newark Chadwick Avenue Drug Trafficking Network Charged with Drugs, Weapons Offenses

NEWARK, N.J. – A Newark man had his initial appearance today on charges stemming from his arrest for narcotics trafficking and illegally possessing a firearm, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Federal officials said Mr. Ibraaheem Islam, a/k/a “Ish,” 32, appeared by video conference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Leda Dunn Wettre and was detained without bail.

Officials say Islam is charged by complaint with three counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (Counts One through Three), one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (Count Four), and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime (Count Five).

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

From at least April 17, 2020 to May 27, 2020, Islam engaged in conduct consistent with hand-to-hand narcotics transactions on a regular basis in the vicinity of Chadwick Avenue.

Law enforcement obtained a warrant for Islam’s arrest, as well as warrants to search two vehicles and one residence associated with Islam.

On May 30, 2020, law enforcement recovered a 5.7x28 millimeter caliber FN Herstal model “FN Five-SeveN” pistol, loaded with 17 rounds of ammunition, 194 vials containing suspected cocaine base, and 64 glassine envelopes containing suspected heroin.

Islam was placed under arrest and taken into custody.

Counts One and Two each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million. Count Three carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, and a fine of up to $5 million. Count Four carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000.

Count Five carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum sentence of life in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Charlie J. Patterson; the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose; and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II, with the investigation leading to the charges.

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