Somerset County Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Possession of Six Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

TRENTON, N.J. - A Somerset County, New Jersey, man was sentenced on June 9, 2026 to 300-months' imprisonment for drug trafficking, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, and illegal possession of firearms, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.

Malachi A. Muhammad, 51, of Somerset, was previously convicted on April 11, 2025 of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl and heroin, and cocaine, possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and unlawful possession of firearms by a convicted felon, following a one-week trial before U.S. District Judge Georgette Castner in Trenton federal court. On June 9, 2026, Judge Castner imposed a 300-month sentence of imprisonment.

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

On August 19, 2021, officers from the Lawrence Township Police Department responded to calls from concerned citizens about a car stopped in the middle of Route 1 near the Quaker Bridge Mall. Officers found Muhammad, the only occupant and driver of the car, initially unresponsive and believed that he was asleep or having a medical emergency. After officers woke him up, they noticed the handle of a handgun in between his legs. Officers secured the loaded handgun, took Muhammad out of the vehicle, and arrested him. In the vehicle, officers found 91 pills of methamphetamine, 468 wax folds of fentanyl and heroin, 5 bags of cocaine, and five additional firearms, including two semi-automatic rifles, and over 150 rounds of ammunition. The drug and gun evidence introduced at trial is depicted below:

In addition to the prison term, Judge Castner imposed three years of supervised release following Muhammad's term of imprisonment.

U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) under the direction of Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks, Jr., the Lawrence Township Police Department, under the direction of Interim Chief Kevin Reading, the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Acting Superintendent Jeanne Hengemuhle, and the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Linda Estremera, with the investigation leading to the guilty verdict.

The government is represented by Attorney-in-Charge Tracey Agnew and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Garelick of the U.S. Attorney's Office Criminal Division in Trenton.

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