Downtown Newark Heroin And Oxycodone Dealer Gets 65 Months In Prison For Drug Distribution Conspiracy, Firearms Offenses

NEWARK, N.J. – A Newark man was sentenced today to 65 months in prison for distributing large quantities of heroin and oxycodone in and around downtown Newark, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced today.

Lamont Vaughn a/k/a “Mont,” a/k/a “True V,” 33, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Jose L. Linares to Count One and Count Fourteen of an indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and oxycodone and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Judge Linares imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Between August 2012 and August 7, 2013, Vaughn conspired with others to distribute large quantities of heroin and oxycodone out of a downtown Newark clothing store called Ballas Boutique. Over the course of the conspiracy, Vaughn and others sold drugs out of Ballas Boutique to a confidential source more than 35 times. The majority of the sales were audio and video recorded.

Additionally, law enforcement intercepted conversations of Vaughn and his conspirators pursuant to court orders. The intercepted conversations revealed that Vaughn had multiple employees who sold drugs for him at Ballas Boutique. The intercepted conversations further revealed that Vaughn had multiple, established sources of supply for heroin and oxycodone.

On August 7, 2013, law enforcement officers executed arrest and search warrants at Ballas Boutique and at Vaughn’s home in Newark. When law enforcement officers announced their presence and entered Vaughn’s home, they found Vaughn attempting to flush drugs down the toilet. Among the items recovered from Vaughn’s bedroom were dozens of oxycodone pills, two firearms, and a large amount of cash.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Linares sentenced Vaughn to five years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher in Newark, as well as the N.J. State Police Street Gangs North Unit with the investigation leading to the charges.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Margaret Ann Mahoney and Francisco J. Navarro of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.

Defense counsel: Lamont Vaughn, Pro Se