Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County, New Jersey, man was sentenced to 120 months in prison for drug trafficking and firearms possession in furtherance of drug trafficking, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.

Tyree Thomas, aka “Hellboy,” 29, of Irvington, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton to nine counts of an indictment charging him with drug distribution, possessing drugs with the intent to distribute, and possessing two firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. Judge Wigenton imposed the sentence on May 24, 2023, in Newark federal court.

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

From May 1, 2019, to Aug. 21, 2019, Thomas sold Phencyclidine (PCP) to an undercover law enforcement agent on multiple occasions. He also maintained an apartment in Orange, New Jersey, as a location where he stored the PCP that he was distributing. Thomas kept two loaded firearms as this location to protect the drugs and drug proceeds he had at the apartment.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Wigenton sentenced Thomas to five years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller; members of the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Superintendent Col. Patrick Callahan; and the New Jersey Department of Corrections, under the direction of Commissioner Victoria L. Kuhn, with the investigation leading to the sentence.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Olta Bejleri and Megan Linares of the Organized Crime/Gangs Unit in Newark.