December 16, 2015

Leader of Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Conspiring to Sell Kilograms of Heroin in New Jersey

TRENTON, NJ—A leader of a large-scale drug trafficking organization was sentenced today to 15 years in prison for conspiring to distribute heroin in Ocean and Monmouth counties and elsewhere in New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Rufus Young, a/k/a “Equan,” a/k/a “E-Money,” 42, of Asbury Park, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan to an information charging him with conspiring to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin. Judge Sheridan imposed the sentence today in Trenton federal court.

To date, 19 other alleged members or affiliates of the “Britt-Young Drug Trafficking Organization”—so named after its leaders, Young and Robert Britt, a/k/a “True,” in the criminal complaint—have pleaded guilty to narcotics offenses.

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

Between February 2013 and March 2014, Young conspired with others to distribute heroin in Ocean and Monmouth counties as part of the Britt-Young DTO. Young was a leader of the organization and was responsible for, among other things, supplying heroin to various sub-dealers who distributed the heroin to others. To carry out Britt-Young DTO’s drug trafficking business, Young maintained several stash house locations that he and his conspirators used to package, store and sell heroin, including a recording studio in Toms River and two apartments in Neptune, New Jersey. Young was responsible for distributing between one and three kilograms of heroin during the conspiracy.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Sheridan sentenced Young to four years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, Red Bank Resident Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Richard M. Frankel; officers of the Brick Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Nils R. Bergquist: and officers of the Toms River Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mitchell Little, with the investigation. He additionally credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George P. Belsky; inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Maria L. Kelokates; officers of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni; and officers of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato. He also thanked the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office and the Neptune Township, Asbury Park, Marlboro, Long Branch and Freehold police departments for their roles in the case.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Grippo of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.

Defense counsel: Stacy A. Biancamano Esq., West Orange, New Jersey