Essex County Man Convicted of Murder and Other Crimes for His Role as Leader of Sprawling Drug Trafficking Organization

NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County man was convicted today for ordering and committing three murders and for his role in a large-scale narcotics enterprise, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Michael Healy, 43, of Montclair, New Jersey, was convicted by a federal jury of racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute narcotics, conspiring to murder a federal witness, three counts of murder in aid of racketeering, and related firearms offenses following a four-week trial before U.S. District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz in Newark federal court.

“Michael Healy ruthlessly ordered murders so that he could protect his narcotics operation and continue to sell large quantities of dangerous narcotics. He recruited men to kill someone he thought was an informant, and even when they killed the wrong person – a bystander – he ordered them to kill his target. He personally pulled the trigger on another victim. Healy’s brazen violence resulted in the senseless killing of three men and caused incredible danger to the community. He now faces multiple mandatory life sentences for his crimes, and the District of New Jersey is safer as a result. As this case demonstrates, my office will use every tool available to prosecute violent crime and ensure that those who endanger the community will face lengthy jail sentences.” — U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger

“Three families were forced to bury their loved ones because one man decided his warped kingdom of illicit drugs and dirty money meant more than their lives,” FBI – Newark Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy said. “Healy mercilessly ordered and hunted down those he believed could harm his criminal enterprise and lucrative relationship with the gangs and cartels, going so far as to pull the trigger himself on one of the victims. Justice has been served with this verdict, and Healy now faces a grim life in federal prison without any chance of parole.”

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial:

In February 2018, Healy found out that one of his conspirators in the drug trafficking enterprise (DTE) was cooperating with law enforcement by providing information about the drug enterprise. Healy ordered members of the Bloods in East Orange to kill the informant, referenced in the Indictment as “A.S.” On Feb. 3, 2018, outside the informant’s residence in Bloomfield, New Jersey, Healy’s conspirators shot and killed a bystander, referenced in the indictment as “Victim-1,” believing the bystander was the informant. Realizing they killed the wrong person, Healy ordered the Bloods to finish the job, and on March 12, 2018, in Bloomfield, the conspirators killed the informant while walking his dog in the area of his residence. On April 6, 2018, believing that another member of the enterprise – identified in the indictment as “J.C.” – might also pose a risk to the enterprise, Healy himself shot and killed “J.C.” in Newark.

Healy’s DTE operated in and around Newark beginning in approximately 2012. Between 2003 and 2012, Healy became a member of the Tree Top PIRU set of the Bloods street gang in Maryland. In and around 2012, Healy formed and led the Healy DTE, a large and sophisticated drug distribution organization that obtained, transported and distributed large amounts of cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and marijuana. Healy used his leadership status in the Tree Top PIRU Bloods to assist him with obtaining suppliers, recruiting and controlling enterprise members, and otherwise conducting the Healy DTE’s operations.

The Healy DTE transported multi-kilogram quantities of controlled substances from California to New Jersey by various means, including private aircraft, vehicles with hidden secret compartments, and the U.S. Postal Service. The Healy DTE then processed and repackaged the controlled substances at various “stash houses” in New Jersey. The Healy DTE distributed some of the controlled substances in New Jersey, including through Bloods gang members in East Orange.

Thomas Zimmerman, Tyquan Daniels, and Ali Hill – all members of the Brick City Brims subset of the Bloods street gang in East Orange – previously pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy for their respective roles in the murders of Victim-1 and A.S. Zimmerman was sentenced to a 37-year term of imprisonment; Daniels was sentenced to a 35-year term of imprisonment; and Hill was sentenced to a 25-year term of imprisonment. In addition, on Feb. 22, 2024, Leevander Wade pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy for his roles in all three murders. His sentencing is scheduled for June 25, 2024.

Every criminal must be punished and every innocent must get justice.

Call 201-420-1913 today to schedule an appointment. Contact New Jersey criminal defense lawyer Joel Silberman to schedule a free legal consultation to fight for your right to justice.