Essex County Felon Sentenced to 19 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking, Firearm Possession, and Possessing Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 228 months in prison for drug trafficking, firearm possession, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Ricky Hubbard, 46, of Newark, was convicted on March 13, 2023, following a four-day trial before U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty on one count each of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; possession with intent to distribute cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Judge McNulty imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.   

According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial:

On Nov. 6, 2019, law enforcement officers pulled over Hubbard’s car in Union, New Jersey. Inside a secret compartment, Hubbard possessed over 369 doses of cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl packaged for distribution; drug-packaging materials; and a 9mm Taurus handgun loaded with seven rounds of ammunition, including one in the chamber. 

In addition to the prison term, Judge McNulty sentenced Hubbard to five years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark; the Union Township Police Department, under the direction of Police Director Chris Donnelly; the Union County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Prosecutor William A. Daniel; and the Union County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Union County Sheriff Peter D. Corvelli Jr., with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Olta Bejleri and Emma Spiro of the Criminal Division in Newark.