Alleged Members Of Jersey City Gang Charged With Shooting Five People

NEWARK, N.J. – Two alleged members of a Jersey City gang have been charged with the June 30, 2018, shooting of five people, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today.

Jalil Holmes, a/k/a “Broadday,” 20, of East Orange, New Jersey, and Jidon Rogers, 37, of Jersey City, New Jersey, made their initial appearances today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court. They each are charged by complaint with five counts of assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering activity and five counts of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.

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

Holmes and Rogers are allegedly both associated with a street gang known to operate in the area of the Marion Gardens Housing Complex in Jersey City. While paying homage to a fellow gang member who was murdered on June 30, 2013, Holmes, Rogers, and two other gang members traveled from the Marion Gardens Housing Complex to the area where their fellow gang member had been murdered five years prior, with the intention of shooting rival gang members. Upon arriving in that area, Holmes and the two other gang members exited the car that Rogers drove, brandished handguns, and fired multiple shots into a crowd of people. “Victim One” sustained one gunshot wound to his left thigh; “Victim Two” sustained one gunshot wound to his right calf; “Victim Three” sustained one gunshot wound to his right leg; “Victim Four” sustained two gunshot wounds to her upper right shoulder; and “Victim Five” sustained a gunshot wound to his left wrist.

Each count of assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering activity is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Each count of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence carries a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison, which must run consecutively to any terms imposed on the other counts. Holmes also has separate pending charges for a January 9, 2019 shooting of rival gang members.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents with the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark; the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Esther Suarez; and the Jersey City Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director James Shea, with the investigation leading to the charges.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Desiree Grace Latzer of the Organized Crime and Gangs Unit in Newark.

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

Defense counsel:

Holmes: Mark Berman, Esq., Hackensack, New Jersey

Rogers: Victor Afanador, Esq., Newark, New Jersey