DEA Task Force and U.S Marshal’s Service Arrests 8 and Seize approximately 1 Million in Cash, 3 pounds of Cocaine, 3 Weapons including a fully automatic machine gun with serial number removed, and 8 vehicles that contained traps or concealment devices

JUN 30, 2005--Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Michael Pasterchick, Jr., of the Drug Enforcement Administration ( DEA ) and U.S. Marshal James Plousis for the District of New Jersey announced today the arrests of eight members of a violent cocaine organization operating out of a house located in Livingston, NJ.

Agents and officers conducted weeks of surveillance at the house of 673 South Orange Ave. , in Livingston. Surveillance identified Jamad Ali, a documented multi- kilogram cocaine trafficker as a resident of the house. Ali was also a federal fugitive wanted on federal drug charges in Jacksonville , FL. Further, Ali, who served 3 ½ years for a state murder conviction, was the leader of this violent drug organization that was dismantled.

On June 29, 2005 , Ali was arrested on the outstanding federal drug warrant. Soon after, a search warrant was executed at the residence. During the search, agents and officers seized approximately 1 million dollars in cash, 3 pounds of cocaine, and several weapons, including a fully automatic machine gun with the serial number removed. Also, seized were 8 luxury vehicles, 4 of which contained concealed traps. Law enforcements officers seized more than 500,000 dollars from these traps during the search.

As the result of the search warrant, the following defendants were also arrested inside the home:

1. Jamad Ali
2. Ricardo Webb
3. Darnell Taylor
4. Zaire Slournoy
5. Jason Lamar Jones
6. Anthony Seay
7. Melvin Joseph Adkins
8. Kevin Frank Adkins

SAC Pasterchick credited the cooperation of all Task Force agencies involved in this investigation. SAC Pasterchick stressed that “the cooperation between agencies was paramount to the success of this violent drug organization being eliminated.” The DEA Task Force is located at the DEA headquarters in Newark , NJ . The Task force is comprised of the following agencies, Kearny Police Department, Newark Police Department, Paterson Police Department, Jersey City Police Department, Bayonne Police Department, Essex ’s County Bureau of Narcotics. Additionally, the U.S Marshal’s Service-Fugitive Task Force, Livingston Police Department, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, and Essex County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the success of this investigation.

“This is a fine example of law enforcement collaborating their resources in an effort to attack drug trafficking organizations and apprehend violent drug traffickers that attempt to flee from prosecution,” said U.S. Marshal James Plousis.

The investigation is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey headed by U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie. John Gay is the Assistant United States Attorney who will represent the Government.

Notwithstanding the criminal complaint, every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt following trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and federal law.

The complaint charges the defendants with distribution and conspiracy. If convicted each defendant faces a statutory maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a statutory minimum of 10 years in federal prison and $4 million dollar fine.