15 members of Paterson street gang charged with crimes
By Jonathan Greene
Published: June 29, 2023
Fifteen members of a Paterson gang have been charged for their roles in dealing heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine, according to U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger’s office.
Authorities said 11 of them were arrested, 2 were already in custody, and 2 remain at large. All of them are members of the UpTop gang which operates around Governor and Carroll streets, the Incca Village housing complex, and Harrison Street.
Jamal Ricks, aka “Bop,” and Rahjohn Leary, aka “Rah,” are high-ranking members of the gang. They worked with the others to control the sale of drugs in the city. Quadair Williams, aka “Fed Baby,” aka “Mega,” is a close associate of senior members of the gang, including Ricks and Leary, and one of the gang’s drug suppliers.
“Not only did they deal these dangerous drugs in Paterson, certain gang members are alleged to have had guns to solidify their control of the drug trade. We have no higher priority than taking apart these gangs and addressing the drivers of violence,” Sellinger said.
Gang members maintained control of their territory using by possessing weapons and using violence. Authorities gathered evidence by conducting wiretaps, surveillance, drug purchases from the gang, and other method. All of it allowed them to piece together the gang’s organization structure and understand its activities.
Authorities began investigating the gang in January 2021.
Those charged were:
- Quadair Williams, aka “Fed Baby” or “Mega,” 41, of Hackensack, New Jersey
- Jamal Ricks, aka “Bop,” 35, of Paterson, New Jersey
- Rahjohn Leary, aka “Rah,” 29, of Newark, New Jersey
- Ronald Taylor, aka “Fat Cat” or “Cat,” 29, of Passaic, New Jersey
- Malachi Fields, aka “Chicago,” 28, of Paterson, New Jersey
- Marquis Turner, aka “June Bug,” 26, of Paterson, New Jersey
- Prince Carter, aka “Eighty” or “Eight,” 41, of Paterson, New Jersey
- Terrance Drakeford, at large, 30, of Prospect Park, New Jersey
- Xavier Classen, aka “Swaggy,” 25, of Paterson, New Jersey
- Quajamir Price, aka “Porkchop,” 20, of Paterson, New Jersey
- Jamah Godwin, at large, 29, of Paterson, New Jersey
- Troy Blair, 48, of Paterson, New Jersey
- Elton Baker, 45, of Paterson, New Jersey
- Justin Carlos, aka “Spaz,” 36, of Paterson, New Jersey
- Marecius Samuels, aka “Re-Up,” 35, of Paterson, New Jersey
Drakeford and Godwin remain as fugitives, authorities said.
The gang members could face lengthy prison sentences if convicted in the case.