By: Richard L. Smith
A New Jersey jury has convicted a man identified as the leader of a violent Trenton-based street gang on multiple serious charges, including murder and racketeering, following a lengthy trial.
According to an announcement by Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice, Charles M. Willis, 33, also known as “Charly Wingate” and “Gate,” of Willingboro, was found guilty on 17 of 21 counts tied to his leadership of the “Get Money Boys” (GMB).
Prosecutors said Willis led the gang’s heroin distribution network centered around the Oakland Street Apartments in Trenton, directing members to carry out violent acts against rivals.
Authorities described the operation as a 24/7 open-air drug market uncovered during a months-long investigation beginning in 2019.
Detectives intercepted communications and conducted surveillance that led to major drug seizures, including tens of thousands of doses of heroin and fentanyl.
Multiple gang members were arrested during traffic stops and enforcement actions tied to the operation.
Evidence presented at trial also linked Willis to orchestrating deadly violence, including the 2019 killing of a cooperating witness, Michael Barnes, and a separate 2020 shooting targeting another witness that left multiple people injured, including a child.
Investigators further tied him to a mass shooting involving dozens of rounds fired during a gang feud.
Willis and numerous associates were charged in connection with the case, which prosecutors say dismantled a significant source of violence and drug activity in the Trenton area. Sentencing is expected at a later date.