NEWARK, N.J. – Myron Williams, a 31-year-old resident of Newark known on the streets as “Money” and “Tunchi,” has been sentenced to two consecutive life terms in federal prison for his central role in a deadly racketeering operation connected to the Marion Gardens Housing Complex in Jersey City.
The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz in Newark federal court following Williams’s conviction on several charges, including racketeering conspiracy, murder related to gang activity, narcotics distribution, and firearms violations.
Breakdown of Sentencing:
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Life sentence for racketeering conspiracy
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Life sentence for murder in aid of racketeering
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20 years (240 months) for drug trafficking
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10 years (120 months) for firearm discharge during a violent crime
All sentences will be served consecutively, effectively ensuring Williams will never be released from prison.
Violence Behind the Walls of Marion Gardens
Federal authorities said Williams was a key member of a gang operating out of Marion Gardens, a public housing complex in Jersey City that became a hub of drug dealing and violent crime. The gang has been linked to several murders and numerous shootings dating back to 2013.
According to court documents, Williams and his co-conspirators orchestrated three homicides between March 2021 and November 2022. Prosecutors say they targeted rival gang members using social media to bait them or lured them into fake drug transactions before launching fatal ambushes.
Co-Conspirators Also Sentenced
Williams wasn’t the only gang member facing federal justice:
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Khalil Kelley, another major figure in the organization, received life plus 10 years on June 5, 2025.
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Jawaad Davis was sentenced to 170 months for organizing a robbery that led to a fatal shooting in 2022.
Eight additional individuals involved in the gang are set to be sentenced over the coming months.
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The Investigation
The sweeping federal investigation that brought down the gang involved extensive surveillance, drug buys, and intelligence gathering centered on Marion Gardens. On March 17, 2023, authorities launched a coordinated operation that resulted in multiple arrests and the seizure of:
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Heroin, fentanyl, and crack cocaine
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Firearms and large quantities of ammunition
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Tactical body armor
Investigators identified Herbert Thomas as a primary narcotics supplier to the group. His sentencing is pending.
A Multi-Agency Effort to Curb Gang Violence
The takedown was part of the Jersey City Violent Crime Initiative (VCI) — an interagency task force launched in 2018 to confront rising gang violence in Hudson County. The operation was led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey in cooperation with:
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Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office
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Jersey City Police Department
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FBI, ATF, and U.S. Marshals
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Other federal and local partners
The prosecution was spearheaded by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Desiree Grace and Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Maloy and Javon Henry of the Organized Crime and Gangs Unit.
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A Message from Federal Authorities
Federal officials say the case sends a strong signal that organized violence and drug-related killings will not be tolerated. “This sentencing demonstrates our continued commitment to dismantling the most dangerous criminal enterprises threatening our communities,” said one official involved in the operation.
More convictions are expected as authorities continue efforts to rid public housing and surrounding neighborhoods of violent criminal networks.