Farad Roland, 28; Mark Williams, 30; and Malik Lowery, 31; all of Newark, were charged in a 27-count second superseding indictment connection with their alleged membership in The South Side Cartel, a subset of the 793 Bloods gang. Roland is charged with six counts of murder in aid of racketeering, while Williams and Lowery are each charged with one count of murder in aid of racketeering, charges which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of life in prison. The charge is a death-eligible offense subject to a decision by the U.S. Attorney General.
“As the indictment spells out, the gang members indicted today used murder and violence as tools of their criminal trade, punishing disloyal associates, intimidating rivals, and silencing those they believed were cooperating with law enforcement,” U.S. Attorney Fishman said. “They presided over a reign of terror along Hawthorne Avenue for years. These charges finally assign responsibility for more than half a dozen unsolved homicides and represent the latest efforts in our ongoing pursuit of members of violent street gangs.”
“The primary objective of the FBI’s investigation into the criminal enterprise known as South Side Cartel was to disrupt and dismantle one of Newark’s most violent street gangs,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford said. “In conjunction with the Newark Police Department and Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the FBI and its law enforcement partners were successful in accomplishing this mission.”
Newark Police Director Samuel DeMaio stated, “I am pleased that our partnerships with our fellow law enforcement entities, particularly on the federal level, continue to prove effective tools against violent crime and habitual offenders here in Newark. Today’s charges and the severity of the penalties are a testament to our combined resolve to remove these violent predators from our community. I thank all of those gathered today who played a role in today’s announcement and look forward to strengthening our partnerships and multiplying our efforts.”
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
The South Side Cartel has operated primarily on Hawthorne Avenue in Newark since 2002. Originally a neighborhood-based gang whose main activities were selling drugs and committing violent acts to aid the drug trafficking business, many of the gang’s members were officially brought into the Bloods gang in 2002 and 2003. As early as 2005, the gang was officially named The South Side Cartel. The gang allegedly committed numerous murders, shootings, robberies and other violent acts.
The gang based its criminal activities out of apartments located inside buildings dubbed “the Twin Towers,” located at 496-500 Hawthorne Ave. The Twin Towers were the scene of repeated narcotics and gun arrests by local law enforcement between 2002 and 2010. Many of The South Side Cartel members had tattoos depicting these buildings and the “SSC” logo, representing the gang’s initials.
At its peak, the South Side Cartel had about 20 members or associates, many of whom have since been killed in gang-related murders or who are serving prison sentences in state and federal prisons for gang-related crimes. Defendants Roland, Williams, and Lowery represent the last of the leadership of the gang.
South Side Cartel leader Amin Roland (the brother of defendant Farad Roland), 35, was convicted by a jury in July 2012 of being a felon in possession of a firearm. On November 29, 2012, U.S. District Court Judge Salas sentenced Amin Roland to the statutory maximum prison sentence of 10 years.
“These three defendants posed a clear danger to the people of Essex County,” Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray said. “Their brazen use of violence as part of their drug and gang trade is stunning. We are pleased that we were able to work with our federal partners to bring them to justice and now look forward to the final resolution of their cases.”
“Today’s indictment should serve as an example of our commitment to the hard-working, law-abiding citizens of this community,” Newark’s Chief of Police Sheilah Coley said. “In forming these alliances with other local, county, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, the Newark Police Department has transcended all departmental and jurisdictional boundaries in the interest of public safety. We are working together seamlessly to produce positive results in our violent crime reduction efforts and will continue our joint ventures aimed at improving the quality of life here in our city.”
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ford; the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Police Director DeMaio and Chief Coley; and Acting Essex County Prosecutor Murray for the investigation leading to the today’s indictment.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert L. Frazer and Andrew J. Bruck of the Organized Crime/Gangs Unit in Newark.
The counts in the indictment carry the following maximum potential penalties:
| Count | Offense | Defendant(s) | Maximum Penalties |
| One | Racketeering | All three defendants | Life in prison; $250,000 fine |
| Two | Racketeering conspiracy | All three defendants | Life in prison; $250,000 fine |
| Three | Murder in Aid of Racketeering (Leaks Murder) | Roland | Life in prison or death penalty; $250,000 fine |
| Four | Murder in Aid of Racketeering (Stewart Murder) | Roland | Life in prison or death penalty; $250,000 fine |
| Five | Murder in Aid of Racketeering (“Fu” Murder) | Roland | Life in prison or death penalty; $250,000 fine |
| Six | Murder in Aid of Racketeering (“Dubird” Murder) | All three defendants | Life in prison or death penalty; $250,000 fine |
| Seven | Murder in Aid of Racketeering (Silas Murder) | Roland | Life in prison or death penalty; $250,000 fine |
| Eight | Murder in Aid of Racketeering (Prince Murder) | Roland | Life in prison or death penalty; $250,000 fine |
| Nine | Use of Firearm in Furtherance of Violent Crime (Silas Murder) | Roland | Life in prison; $250,000 fine |
| 10 | Use of Firearm in Furtherance of Violent Crime (Prince Murder) | Roland | Life in prison; $250,000 fine |
| 11 | Carjacking (Mercedes Benz) | Roland, Williams | 15 years in prison; $250,000 fine |
| 12 | Use of Firearm in Furtherance of Carjacking | Roland, Williams | Life in prison; $250,000 fine |
| 13 | Carjacking (BMW) | Williams, Lowery | 15 years in prison; $250,000 fine |
| 14 | Use of Firearm in Furtherance of Carjacking | Williams, Lowery | Life in prison; $250,000 fine |
| 15 | Hobbs Act Robbery | Roland, Lowery | 20 years in prison; $250,000 fine |
| 16 | Use of Firearm in Furtherance of Hobbs Act | Roland, Lowery | Life in prison; $250,000 fine |
| 17 | Assault with a Deadly Weapon in Aid of Racketeering | Roland | 20 years in prison; $250,000 fine |
| 18 | Use of Firearm in Furtherance of Violent Crime | Roland | Life in prison; $250,000 fine |
| 19 | Assault with a Deadly Weapon in Aid of Racketeering | Williams | 20 years in prison; $250,000 fine |
| 20 | Kidnapping in Aid of Racketeering | Williams | Life in prison; $250,000 fine |
| 21 | Use of Firearm in Furtherance of Violent Crime | Williams | Life in prison; $250,000 fine |
| 22 | Use of Firearm in Furtherance of Violent Crime | Williams | Life in prison; $250,000 fine |
| 23 | Assault with a Deadly Weapon in Aid of Racketeering | Williams | 20 years in prison; $250,000 fine |
| 24 | Use of Firearm in Furtherance of Violent Crime | Williams | Life in prison; $250,000 fine |
| 25 | Assault with a Deadly Weapon in Aid of Racketeering | Roland | 20 years in prison; $250,000 fine |
| 26 | Use of Firearm in Furtherance of Violent Crime | Roland | Life in prison; $250,000 fine |
| 27 | Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine & Heroin | All three defendants | Life in prison; $10 million fine |
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