Newark Man Found With Heroin, Gun Sentenced On Federal Charges

A Newark man who caught the attention of city police last year because his parked car was blocking the sidewalk was sentenced to more than 12 and a half years in prison on drug and weapons charges, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

A Newark man was sentenced to more than 12 years in prison on federal charges last week

Paul Milo

11/10/2019 1:35 p.m.

Aljaneer Waller, 41, was reclined in the driver's seat of his Audi around 8 p.m. May 11, 2018, while the car was parked in the driveway of a vacant home on Maple and Hansbury avenues. Police patrolling the area investigated because of the blocked sidewalk and because all the vehicle's windows, including the windshield, were tinted in violation of the state motor vehicle code.

As officers approached, they smelled marijuana and also saw Waller shift abruptly in his seat when he noticed the police. An officer shined a flashlight into the vehicle and saw a silver handgun in the back seat.

A search turned up 114 envelopes of heroin in the back seat, $13,000 and 40 grams of marijuana in the trunk as well as the gun, a loaded .357 Magnum. Waller also had more than $1,000 in cash on his person.

Prior to his sentencing, Waller pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of heroin with intent to distribute.

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