In August 2020, Sheldon Mays, also known as “Thottie,” was part of a group of eight gang members from Curries Woods public housing complex in Greenville. They approached the victim in two vehicles on a city street, seeking revenge for a past event.
Instead of facing the potential consequences of a trial conviction, Mays and the rest opted to accept plea deals from the government.
Earlier this year, Mays and two other members of his gang were charged with murder and other offenses in state court. The charges stem from a shooting incident that occurred on Union Street, between Martin Luther King Drive and Ocean Avenue, back in June 2020. The incident resulted in the death of one man and left four others injured.
Aside from the jail sentence, U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty also imposed three years of supervised release on Mays in relation to the stabbing incident.
According to Sellinger, the investigation that resulted in the plea and sentencing was carried out by the special agents and task force officers of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Newark Field Division, Jersey City police, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Hudson County Department of Corrections. He credited them for their hard work and dedication.
According to Sellinger, the recent arrests were a result of the Jersey City Violent Crime Initiative (VCI). This program is a joint effort between various law enforcement agencies at the federal, state, and local levels. Its primary goal is to work collaboratively and pool their resources in order to effectively identify, target, and prosecute violent offenders and criminal organizations.
The U.S. Marshals, city police, and various other law enforcement agencies including the DEA, FBI, and ATF are collaborating with the Hudson County prosecutor’s and sheriff’s offices, the state parole board, and the New Jersey State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center. Together, they are working towards a common goal.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Agnew from Sellingers Criminal Division in Trenton is representing the government’s case.
