Malik Lowery is one of three remaining South Side Cartel members facing a host of charges.
Lowery faces up to 30 years in prison. (File photo)NEWARK -- A former leader of "the most violent street gang in Newark" is facing 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to racketeering and other charges, U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman and Assistant Attorney General Leslie Caldwell announced in a joint release Monday.
Malik "Leek" Lowery, 35, pleaded guilty to racketeering, conspiracy, carjacking, robbery, and drug charges in connection with multiple crimes carried out by the "South Side Cartel," a set of the Bloods street gang based in Newark, authorities said.
As part of the plea, Lowery admitted taking part in a 2007 murder, a 2008 armed carjacking, the robbery of a drug dealer, and various other crimes related to the gang's drug activity, authorities said.
When Lowery is sentenced on Dec. 6, he faces 25 to 30 years in federal prison, Fishman and Caldwell said.
Feds seeking death penalty for gang leader
The gang, officials said, grew from a "neighborhood-based gang whose main activities were selling drugs and committing violent acts to aid the drug trafficking business," to a 20-member group that ran a major heroin and cocaine ring in the city from about 2003 to 2010. Most of the previous members are either in jail, or were murdered in connection with gang activities, authorities said.
Two other remaining members of the group, officials said, are also in law enforcement custody.
Mark "B.G." Williams, pleaded guilty to racketeering and related charges earlier this month, officials said. The trial against Farad "B.U." Roland, one of the founders of the gang, is set to begin in September 2017, they said. Authorities said they intend to seek the death penalty for Roland, who is charged in five murders, among other crimes.
Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.