NEWARK, N.J. — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - New Jersey), published as received.

NEWARK, N.J. – Five members and associates of a Jersey City gang associated with the Marion Gardens Housing Complex pleaded guilty this week to racketeering, violent crimes in aid of racketeering, drug trafficking, and firearms offenses, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.

Jervon Morris, aka “Sticky,” 35; Kevin Williams, aka “KK,” aka “Kay Kay,” 30; Jakeem Gibson-Madison, aka “Beanz,” 29; K’shawn Jackson, aka “Lil Kay,” 23; and Terick Rogers, aka “Moot,” 32, all of Jersey City, New Jersey, all pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi in Newark federal court to racketeering conspiracy and related crimes.

Morris and Gibson-Madison will be sentenced on Aug. 20, 2024; Rogers and Williams will be sentenced on Aug. 21, 2024; and K’Shawn Jackson will be sentenced on Aug. 22, 2024.

“Criminal street gangs – whether they are structured organizations with international reach or, as here, neighborhood based and local – cause devastating damage to the community. Two of these defendants murdered a victim and all the defendants caused senseless violence and shootings and funneled dangerous drugs for personal profit. These defendants will now deservedly face significant sentences in prison as a result of the harm they’ve caused.”

U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger

“Neighborhood street gangs hold communities hostage with the constant threat of violence and dangerous proliferation of illicit drugs,” FBI – Newark Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy said. “These men admit they used all methods of criminal activity to defend their turf around the Marion Gardens House Complex, including targeting and murdering rival gang members. This investigation is just one of many cases we are working through the FBI Newark Violent Crimes Task Force with our law enforcement partners, focusing all of our resources, time and energy on taking out the leadership of these groups and ending the brutality they inflict on our city.”

“Each of these defendants threatened public safety and instilled fear in neighborhoods throughout Jersey City,” Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said. “The outcome here reaffirms a commitment by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office to utilize all its resources and law enforcement partners to ensure justice is served on behalf of victims and the communities affected by these senseless crimes.” 

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

The defendants are all members and associates of the neighborhood street gang associated with the Marion Gardens Housing Complex, which routinely distributes cocaine and heroin, among other controlled substances, in and around the Marion Gardens Housing Complex.  Members and associates of the gang also engaged in acts of violence, including numerous assaults, shootings, and murders, which targeted rival gang members and others, including the following:

  • On July 28, 2011, Morris and Williams, along with another member of the Marion Gardens street gang, murdered a victim in the area of Gifford Avenue and Bergen Avenue in Jersey City;
  • On Nov. 5, 2017, members and associates of the Marion Gardens street gang shot a victim in the area of Van Nostrand Avenue and Bergen Avenue in Jersey City;
  • On Feb. 7, 2018, Williams and another member of the Marion Gardens street gang assaulted a victim R.B. in the area of Summit Avenue and Magnolia Avenue in Jersey City;
  • On June 30, 2018, Rogers, Jackson, and another member of the enterprise shot five people while celebrating “Meech Day” in honor of a deceased fellow gang member;
  • On Jan. 9, 2019, Gibson-Madison, with another member of the enterprise, traveled to the area of Grant Avenue and Ocean Avenue to target a rival gang member, at which time three victims were shot at, two of whom were hit, and
  • On June 9, 2019, after being shot at by rival gang member, Kevin Williams brandished a firearm and attempted to shoot back at the rival gang member.

Lakief Grayson, aka “LaLa,” previously pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and related charges in July 2023. Charges remain pending against Jalil Holmes, aka “Broad Day,” aka “BD,” and Willie Williams, aka “Willz,” both of whom are scheduled to appear in court in the coming weeks. The charges and allegations against these defendants are merely accusations and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy, investigators of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Esther Suarez, and the Jersey City Police Department, under the direction of Director James Shea, for the investigation leading to the charges.

This investigation was conducted as part of the Jersey City Violent Crime Initiative (VCI). The VCI was formed in 2018 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Jersey City Police Department, for the sole purpose of combatting violent crime in and around Jersey City.  As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate to strategize and prioritize the prosecution of violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community.  The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New Jersey Division, the U.S. Marshals, the Jersey City Police Department, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Parole, the Hudson County Jail, and the New Jersey State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Desiree Grace, Chief of the Criminal Division for the District of New Jersey in Newark.