NEW JERSEY — Jaquan Picott, 30, of Trenton, has been sentenced to 190 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to drug trafficking and illegal possession of ammunition, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced. The sentence was issued by Judge Zahid N. Quraishi in U.S. District Court in Trenton, with both counts running concurrently.
Picott admitted to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of ammunition as a convicted felon. Federal investigations by the FBI and ATF beginning in December 2022 revealed Picott sold roughly 450 grams of fentanyl and distributed unserialized firearms, or “ghost guns,” across Mercer and Ocean counties.
He was initially arrested on June 1, 2023, but absconded from pre-trial supervision in December 2024. Picott was captured on June 27, 2025, by the U.S. Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force.
Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba emphasized the seriousness of fentanyl trafficking and vowed to pursue those evading justice. Picott’s 190-month sentence reflects the federal commitment to combating deadly drug distribution and illegal firearms possession.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard G. Shephard. The investigation involved the FBI Newark Division, ATF Newark Field Division, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
This prosecution is part of broader federal efforts targeting fentanyl trafficking and unauthorized gun distribution in New Jersey communities.
