Two Members of Newark Sex, Money, Murder Gang Charged with Murder in Aid of Racketeering

NEWARK, N.J. – Two members of the Sex, Money, Murder (SMM) street gang operating in the Bradley Court Housing Complex were charged by criminal complaint with murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy, and firearms offenses, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.

Tyler Shorter, aka “Money Bags,” aka “Bags,” 19; and Amir Canty, aka “Blast,” 20; both of Newark, are charged by complaint with one count each of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, murder in aid of racketeering and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. They made their initial court appearances on Oct. 25, 2023, before U.S. magistrate Judge José R. Almonte in Newark federal court and were detained.

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

Shorter and Canty were members of the SMM street gang set operating in the Bradley Court Housing Complex, known as M-Blok. SMM is known for drug distribution in and around its controlled territory, fraud schemes, and interstate transportation of stolen property, as well as for violence against numerous rival neighborhoods and gangs. Among other things, Shorter and Canty used social media and rap music to tout the power of SMM in an effort to keep victims and rivals in fear of the gang. SMM has been involved in an escalating feud with a rival neighborhood-based gang known as GBlock, whose members are affiliated with the Grape Street Crips and operate in the area of Goodwin Avenue in Newark.

Shorter and the victim, Nyshon Anthony, were rival rappers representing their respective gangs and neighborhoods. After an exchange of threatening and disrespectful music videos and songs released between the rival gangs, on Nov. 8, 2022, Shorter allegedly shot and killed the Anthony on South Orange Avenue in Newark, with the assistance of Canty.

The murder in aid of racketeering charges are punishable by a mandatory sentence of life in prison and a potential capital punishment.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents and task force officers of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark; detectives with the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Task Force, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Director Fritz G. Fragé, the New Jersey State Police under the direction of Superintendent Col. Patrick J. Callahan, and the Nassau County Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Patrick J. Ryder.

This case is part of the Violent Crime Initiative (VCI) in Newark. The VCI was formed in August 2017 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, and the City of Newark’s Department of Public Safety to combat violent crime in and around Newark. As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate and pool resources to prosecute violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community. The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office; the FBI; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration, New Jersey Division; the U.S. Marshals; the Newark Department of Public Safety; the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office; the Essex County Sheriff’s Office; the N.J. State Board of Parole; the Union County Jail; the N.J. State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center; the N.J. Department of Corrections; the East Orange Police Department; and the Irvington Police Department.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Goldberg of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Unit in Newark.

The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.