Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey and Director Anthony Caputo of the New Brunswick Police Department today announced the arrest of 7 members of a major gang, following an extensive investigation of a three month crime spree of attempted murder, attempted carjacking, armed robbery, aggravated assault and weapons possession in Middlesex County.
Following the investigation by the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, the New Brunswick Police Department, and the South Brunswick Police Department, authorities with assistance from members of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), New Jersey State Parole, the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, the Camden County Police Department, and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office arrested the defendants.
The three month crime spree began on September 7, 2017 and lasted until November 30, 2017 in New Brunswick. The arrests began on November 29, 2017 and continued through December 1, 2017. Defendants living in communities including New Brunswick, Franklin Township, Piscataway, South Plainfield, Camden, and Newark were apprehended by police.
The defendants were arrested on a variety of charges, including counts of murder, attempted murder, conspiracy, attempted carjacking, armed robbery, aggravated assault, receiving stolen property, possession of weapon, possession of a community gun, and being a certain person not to have a weapon.
The crime wave started with a shooting on September 7th around 10:20 p.m. on Throop Avenue in New Brunswick.
According to police, authorities charged Anthony Pinson a/k/a “Smoke”, 25, of Franklin Park, with attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and being a certain person not to have a weapon. Also charged was Paul Sexton a/k/a “Munch”, 21, of New Brunswick for conspiracy to commit murder.
Three days later, on September 10th at 4:34 a.m., a robbery took place at a gas station located on French Street in New Brunswick. Among those arrested and charged was Pinson for robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and being a certain person not to have a weapon. Authorities charged Sexton with robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery.
In addition, authorities charged Danique Simpson a/k/a “Biz”, 24, of South Plainfield and Ashley Stewart, 24, of Piscataway with robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery.
Officers on September 16th at approximately 2:40 a.m. responded to an attempted carjacking that took place on Beachwood Court, in the Monmouth Junction section of South Brunswick. Authorities charged Pinson, Sexton, and Shaheed Wroten a/k/a “Gleese”, 22, of New Brunswick with conspiracy to commit carjacking, possession of an assault firearm, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and possession of a community firearm.
Then, on September 19th at 9:31 p.m. three males, two 20-year-old’s and a 21-year old, were shot on Throop Avenue in New Brunswick and were taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick; all three survived.
Three people were charged in the shooting as follows: Pinson for three counts of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, possession of a handgun, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, possession of a community gun, and being a certain person not to have a weapon; Antoine Williams a/k/a “Wax”, 30, of Newark was charged with three counts of attempted murder, possession of an assault firearm, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, possession of a community gun, and being a certain person not to have a weapon; and Sexton was charged with conspiracy to commit murder and possession of a community gun.
The mayhem continued on October 15th at 2:33 a.m. on Delavan Street in New Brunswick when approximately seven shots were fired, no one was struck by the flying bullets. Officials charged Wroten with attempted murder, possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and possession of a community gun. Both Pinson and Sexton were charged with conspiracy to commit attempted murder and possession of a community gun.
Just two hours later, at 4:15 a.m., at a South Brunswick gas station on Route 27 a robbery turned into attempted murder when a gas station attendant was shot.
The victim was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and recovered from his injuries.
Five people were charged in this crime as follows:
Police charged Pinson with attempted murder, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, receiving stolen property, possession of a community gun, and being a certain person not to have a weapon. Wroten was charged with armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, receiving stolen property and possession of a community gun.
Also arrested were Sexton, Simpson, and Stewart; all three were charged with conspiracy to commit armed robbery, receiving stolen property, and possession of a community gun.
Then on October 26, 2017 at 1:34 a.m. a stabbing occurred on George Street in New Brunswick. The male victim was taken to RWJ University Hospital and survived his injuries.
Authorities charged Darnell Konteh aka “Badass”, 25, with armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, aggravated assault, possession of weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and being a certain person not to have a weapon. Wroten was charged with armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, and aggravated assault. While police charged Sexton with conspiracy to commit armed robbery.
In Camden, a shooting occurred on November 28, 2017 on Atlantic Avenue. Konteh was charged with the murder of Stanford Brown, 30, of the Borough of Lawnside, in Camden County. Police ultimately charged Pinson with attempted murder.
Finally, on November 29, 2017 at 10:06 p.m. a motor vehicle stop took place in New Brunswick on an arrest warrant for Anthony Pinson, who was an occupant of the vehicle. Police arrested and charged him with possession of a handgun, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, certain person, and possession of a community gun.
Also arrested where two others occupants of the car, Konteh and Sexton. After a warrant was obtained, the car was searched revealing two more weapons. Police charged with possession of a shotgun, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, possession of a community gun and being a certain person not to have a weapon. While police charged Sexton with possession of a community gun and possession of a controlled dangerous substance.
“I thank and commend the many dedicated law enforcement officers and special agents whose efforts led to the arrests. When addressing violent gang activity, results like these are only possible with multi-agency coordination, and the sharing of resources. This investigation’s conclusion has resulted in a safer community.” - Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey
The investigation is active and is continuing.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Brandt Gregus of the New Brunswick Police Department at (732) 745-5200 or Detective Gregory Morris of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-4054.