NEWARK, N.J. – A Newark man was sentenced today to 151
months in prison for possession of a loaded firearm and possession with intent
to distribute heroin in Newark U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Aljaneer Waller, 41, previously pleaded guilty before U.S.
District Court Judge Kevin McNulty to an information charging him with one
count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and one count of
possession with intent to distribute heroin. Judge McNulty imposed the sentence
today in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements
made in court:
On May 11, 2018, at approximately 8:00 p.m., officers from the
Newark Police Criminal Intelligence Unit were patrolling the area of Maple and
Hansbury avenues in Newark when they observed an Audi automobile parked in the
driveway of what appeared to be an uninhabited house. The vehicle had dark
tinting on all of its windows, including on the front windows and windshield,
which is a violation of New Jersey motor vehicle traffic laws. It was also
partially blocking the sidewalk, which is also a violation of New Jersey motor
vehicle laws.
As the officers approached the Audi, they observed Waller
sitting in the reclined driver’s seat with the window rolled down. They also
smelled a strong odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. When Waller
observed the officers approaching the Audi, he became startled and abruptly
turned towards the back seat, and then turned back towards the front again.
One of the officers then shined his flashlight into the Audi
and observed what appeared to be a silver handgun on the back seat of the Audi.
Waller opened the driver’s door and began to quickly exit the Audi. However,
the officers detained him and then conducted a search of the back seat area of
the Audi, which revealed a loaded .357 Magnum Ruger SP101 revolver and 114
envelopes of heroin. Waller was also found to have $1,067 in cash in his
pocket. In the trunk of the Audi, officers found more than $13,000 and 40.6
grams of marijuana.
In addition to the prison term, Judge McNulty sentenced
Waller to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI,
under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark, and
officers of the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety
Director Anthony F. Ambrose, with the investigation leading to today’s
sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney
Jonathan W. Romankow of the Violent Crimes Unit in Newark.
Defense counsel: Brooke M. Barnett Esq. Newark
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