Fifteen Members of Violent Trenton Street Gang Indicted for Racketeering, Murder, Assaults, Carjacking, and Other Crimes

TRENTON – Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) announced today the indictment of 15 alleged members of a violent street gang who were allegedly responsible for murders, attempted murder, shootings, assaults, robberies, and carjackings in Trenton and surrounding towns.

All the alleged adult members of the gang – including the alleged leader, Justice Chambers, 25, of Trenton – are charged in a 50-count indictment with racketeering and other crimes. Chambers is charged with one murder, four attempted murders, assaults, weapons offenses, conspiracy, and being a leader of organized crime. All the defendants have been arrested, and 13 are currently detained pending trial.

“The violence allegedly carried out by this gang strikes at the heart of our communities,” said Attorney General Davenport. “Every family deserves to feel safe on their block and in their home. We will continue working with our law enforcement and community partners to dismantle organizations that threaten that sense of security.”

“This takedown reflects months of coordinated investigative work with our law enforcement partners,” said DCJ Director Theresa L. Hilton. “We will continue to investigate and prosecute organizations that endanger our communities.”

“I want to thank the Attorney General for focusing the resources and tools needed to dismantle a criminal network of this magnitude and keep our neighborhoods safe,” said Mercer County Prosecutor Janetta D. Marbrey. “I would also like to commend all of the attorneys and investigators for their outstanding work bringing this case together. The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to stop these violent street gangs from endangering our communities.”

“This investigation was significant in that this gang and its leaders were allegedly involved in numerous acts of violence including murders and attempted murders in Trenton and surrounding municipalities,” said Trenton Police Director Steve Wilson. “It would not have been possible to take down this network without the joint operation between local, county, and state authorities. I commend all personnel involved for a job well done. I am thankful that we all are dedicated to making the communities safer. Our commitment to public safety will never end.”

“This indictment of 15 members of a violent Trenton street gang marks a significant step toward making our communities safer,” said Jeanne Hengemuhle, Acting Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “These individuals are accused of spreading fear through acts of murder, shootings, assaults, robberies, and carjackings that have no place in our neighborhoods. We are sending a clear message: we will not tolerate violence, and we will hold anyone who endangers our residents accountable. This case is the result of strong collaboration among local, county, and state law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to dismantle this alleged criminal network. Our commitment remains unwavering — we will continue working together to protect our communities and ensure that public safety always comes first.”

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

From February 2023 through June 2025, the “OutSouf” criminal street gang, led by Chambers, has operated out of South Trenton and has been responsible for multiple violent incidents. Chambers and Jhosse Tolentino (now deceased) were high-ranking members of the OutSouf street gang. Defendant Semaj Parker was allegedly a mid-level member; defendant Jihad Jackson was an alleged keeper of the firearms; defendants Zai’yae Rowell, juvenile B.B., juvenile E.M., Nychee Carmona, Deon Folkes Lawson, Elijahwon Jackson, and juvenile Z.R. were alleged lower-level members and shooters; and Kymir Lewis-West, Yasin Brantley, Kaheem Godbolt, Stanley Davis, and Neylis Vargas were alleged associates. (See attached chart.)

On April 9, 2023, Tolentino was killed. Following his death, the OutSouf gang committed multiple violent incidents – called “drills” – to avenge Tolentino’s death, including by allegedly committing murder to assert dominance in South Trenton and against rival gangs operating in the city. The gang also allegedly committed crimes in Hamilton and Ewing townships.

The drills included the August 19, 2023, homicide of “T.F.” and the September 16, 2023, homicide of “B.L.” They were allegedly carried out by lower-level members to obtain “stain” or “rank” within the gang. Law enforcement officials identified a distinct pattern that OutSouf members allegedly used when conducting a drill. Members obtained firearms; they used vehicles, sometimes stolen and sometimes swapping license plates to thwart law enforcement detection; they shot at rivals or other Trenton residents in rival territory; and OutSouf members then took credit for the violence via social media or through a publicized rap video. For example, OutSouf rappers allegedly took credit for shooting of members of rival gang “H-Block” on April 9, 2024, the T.F. and B.L. homicides, and two additional aggravated assaults in publicized rap videos.

In addition, as alleged in the indictment, from April 9, 2023 to June 28, 2025, OutSouf members allegedly circulated community guns amongst the gang to commit drills, with the same firearms being used in homicides and aggravated assaults. Two of these firearms were allegedly seized from Jackson on October 6, 2023, and January 18, 2024. Chambers and Jackson are alleged to have helped lower-level members obtain firearms for drills.

Furthermore, as noted above, OutSouf allegedly used stolen cars to commit its drills. On August 15, 2023, Parker and E.M. allegedly discussed stealing a car, and three days later a Ford Escape was stolen/carjacked and used in the T.F. homicide. In addition, on January 23, 2025, OutSouf members Elijahwon Jackson, Zai’yae Rowell, Brantley, and Carmona allegedly stole a Honda CRV and drove it with a U-Haul box truck to another location; three firearms, a mask, and gloves were recovered following their arrest.

Deputy Attorneys General Elizabeth Newton, Jaclyn Dowd, and Special Deputy Attorney General Kyle Petit are prosecuting the case for DCJ, under the supervision of Deputy Chief Nicole Siano and Bureau Chief Cassandra Montalto. Additionally, Mercer County Assistant Prosecutors Daniel Matos, Scott Gershman and Laura Sunyak assisted in the investigation. This case was investigated by DCJ detectives, Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office detectives, and the Trenton Police Department.

First-degree murder charges carry a sentence of 30 years to life imprisonment, of which 30 years must be served before parole eligibility, and a fine up to $200,000. First-degree racketeering charges carry a sentence of 10 to 20 years in state prison, subject to the No Early Release Act, as well as fines up to $500,000. Other first-degree charges carry a sentence of 10 to 20 years in state prison and a fine up to $200,000. Second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000. Third-degree charges carry a sentence of three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000. Fourth-degree offenses carry a sentence of up to 18 months in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

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