BRICK, NJ — A Brick Township man, accused of being a ranking member of the Bloods street gang, has been charged in connection with distribution of fentanyl and heroin in Newark, the U.S. Attorney’s office said.
Ezra A. Strong, aka “Doonka,” 30, of Brick, has been charged with conspiracy to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl and more than 100 grams of heroin, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said.
Leonard Wade, aka “Clap,” 49, of New Brunswick, also has been charged with conspiracy to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl and more than 100 grams of heroin, Carpenito said. Wade also is charged with possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.
Carpenito’s office said authorities seized 831 grams of suspected fentanyl and 612 grams of suspected heroin as part of an investigation into a drug trafficking organization operating in Monmouth and Middlesex counties, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere.
The investigation has revealed that Wade, allegedly a ranking member of the Sex Money Murder subset of the Bloods street gang, is a leader of the operation, authorities said.
Strong, allegedly a ranking member of the Fruit Town Brims, also a subset of the Bloods street gang, distributes fentanyl and heroin on behalf of the organization, authorities said.
Authorities searched Wade’s home on Oct. 1 and seized a 9mm semiautomatic polymer “privately made” handgun, along with 50 rounds of 9mm ammunition and five rounds of .45 caliber ammunition, Carpenito’s office said.
The count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a $10 million fine. The ammunition offense carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Carpenito credited special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Monmouth/Ocean HIDTA Task Force with the assistance of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Gang and Criminal Enterprise Unit with the investigation leading to the arrests.
