Elizabeth Men Acquitted of Murder, Convicted on Weapons Charges

An Essex County jury acquitted two Elizabeth men on double-murder charges, but convicted them on various weapons charges relating to a 2010 double murder in Newark, officials at the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office said Tuesday.

The men, Anwar Crockett, 32, and Ali Ibn Karim, 31, were acquitted before Superior Court Judge Martin Cronin of the Sept. 15, 2010 murder of Newark residents Reginald Wilson, 26, and Ishmeal Bowers, 32, on Concord Street and Sherman Avenue, officials said.

Four days after the murders, Elizabeth police chased the pair from Elizabeth into Newark. During the pursuit, the men fired multiple gunshots at police before being captured. Police recovered two weapons in the pair’s vehicle - including a Mac-11 assault weapon.

“The jury reached a fair verdict in light of the available evidence and we thank them for their service, ’’ said Assistant Prosecutor Adam Wells, who tried the case with Assistant Prosecutor Eileen O’Connor.

Both men were convicted of the following charges related to the Sept. 19 incident:

• Eluding in the 2^nd degree
• Conspiracy to commit aggravated assault against law enforcement officers in the 2^nd degree
• Possession of an assault firearm (Mac-11) in the 2^nd degree
• Unlawful possession of a weapon (.40 Pistol) in the 2^nd degree
• Possession of an assault firearm for an unlawful purpose in the 2^nd degree
• Possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose in the 2^nd degree
• 2 counts of possession of a defaced firearm (one for each gun)
• Possession of Cocaine
• Possession of a weapon by a convicted felon (Mac-11)
• Possession of a weapon by a convicted felon (.40 Cal Pistol) 

Both Crockett and Karim are scheduled to be sentenced on May 3, officials said. When they are sentenced, they face extended prison terms because of prior convictions.