Newark – Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II, announced today Kenneth Daniels, 32, of Newark was sentenced to life in prison for being a leader in a narcotics distribution network.
Officials say in July, Daniels and two other men, Levell Burnett, 41, and Barry Berry, 37, both of Newark, were convicted by an Essex County jury of being leaders of a narcotics trafficking network, following a trial before the Honorable John Zunic, Judge of the Superior Court.
Today, Judge Zunic sentenced Daniels to a life plus ten years with a mandatory 30 years in prison before he is eligible for parole.
Officials say on Sept. 21, Berry received the same sentence of life plus ten years in prison with 30 years parole ineligibility.
Burnett has not yet been sentenced, but he also faces a life sentence with a mandatory 25 years in prison.
All three were convicted of being leaders of a narcotics network.
Daniels and Berry were also convicted for weapons offenses related to illegally possessed firearms.
Assistant Prosecutor Adam B. Wells, who tried the case with Assistant Prosecutor Brian Riehl, said the three men conspired to lead a heroin trafficking ring in Newark and Orange, from March through December 2015.
“Given their extensive criminal histories and the scope of the criminal network they were convicted of leading, the life sentences are appropriate. These men employed young men to sell heroin for them throughout Essex County and used violence to maintain discipline within their organization,’’ said Assistant Prosecutor Wells.
Daniels’ sentencing today represents his eighth indictable conviction. Berry’s sentencing on September 21, 2018, represented his seventh indictable conviction. Burnett has nine prior indictable convictions, and remains pending sentencing for this, his tenth conviction.