Member of Paterson drug ring charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl

NEWARK, N.J. – Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division, Susan A. Gibson, and U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, Craig Carpenito, announced a Paterson, New Jersey, woman was arrested today in connection with her alleged role in a conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl in New Jersey and Vermont.

Nysifah Deaveareaux, 27, is charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of heroin. She is scheduled to make her initial court appearance today by videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark III.

Caron J. Abrams, 26, of Paterson, was charged by criminal complaint on Aug.14, 2020, with possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. He appeared by videoconference before the U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Dickson and was detained without bail.

Shamir Williams, 25, of Paterson, was charged by complaint on Aug. 14, 2020, along with Deaveareaux, with conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of heroin. On Aug. 20, 2020, Williams appeared by videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor and was detained without bail.

From May 2020 through Aug. 13, 2020, Williams negotiated sales of heroin to another individual. On June 11, 2020, pursuant to these negotiations, Deaveareaux transported approximately 250 “bricks,” or over 12,000 individual doses of heroin, from Paterson and distributed the heroin in Vermont. On Aug. 13, 2020, Abrams attempted to deliver 200 “bricks,” or over 9,000 individual doses of heroin and fentanyl, to an individual at a Passaic County Home Depot parking lot, where he was taken into custody.

Each of the crimes charged carries a minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison, and a fine of at least $5 million.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents and task force officers with the DEA in New Jersey and New England, under the direction of Special Agents in Charge Susan Gibson and Brian D. Boyle, respectively, with the investigation leading to the charges.

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