Mercer Man Gets Nearly 16 Years For Fentanyl Distribution & Illegal Possession Of Ammo

MERCER COUNTY, NJ – A 30-year-old Mercer County man was sentenced to a total of 190 months in prison for possessing quantities of fentanyl he intended to distribute and illegally possessing ammunition as a convicted felon, Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Alina Habba said.

Jaquan Picott of Trenton, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi in Trenton federal court to an Information charging him with possessing with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possessing ammunition by a convicted felon.

According to court documents, in December 2022, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and other law enforcement agencies began an investigation of Picott for drug trafficking and firearm activities.

The investigation revealed that from December 2022 through April 2023, Picott sold approximately 450 grams of fentanyl, unserialized privately manufactured firearms (commonly called “ghost guns”), and ammunition in Ocean and Mercer Counties. On June 1, 2023, Picott was arrested for this conduct.

In December 2024, Picott absconded from pre-trial supervision and on June 27, was arrested by the United States Marshals Service (USMS) New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force (NY/NJ RFTF).

“We will not tolerate drug traffickers who poison our community with fentanyl,” Habba said.

“This sentence reflects our commitment to holding accountable those who seek to flood our neighborhoods with deadly drugs. And if you run to avoid justice, know that we and our law enforcement partners will find you to face your fate.”

Picott was sentenced to 190 months for possessing quantities of fentanyl he intended to distribute and 180 months for being a felon in possession of ammunition, with both counts to run concurrently.

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