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Paterson Man Sentenced to Prison for Distributing Fentanyl

Paterson

A Passaic County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 45 months in prison for distributing fentanyl, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.

Federal law enforcement officials say Tawan Grier, a/k/a “TJ,” 22, of Paterson previously pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti to an information charging him with knowingly and intentionally distributing fentanyl. 

Judge Martinotti imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.

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

Grier is an associate of the 230 Boys street gang, which operates primarily around Rosa Parks Boulevard and Godwin Avenue in Paterson. 

Through numerous controlled purchases of narcotics, consensually recorded telephone calls and text messages, physical surveillance, and the analysis of telephone call detail records, law enforcement officers determined that from September 2018 through Oct. 1, 2019, Grier and other members and associates of the 230 Boys distributed narcotics, including heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine base.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Martinotti sentenced Grier to three years of supervised release.

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