Men Sentenced 65-Plus Years for 2021-22 Gang-Related Murders in NJ, MD

Two men were sentenced to lengthy prison terms for separate, violent murders linked to gang activity and ambush-style shootings. Edgard Castro-Contreras was sentenced to life in prison plus 52 years for the 2022 gang-related shooting in Silver Spring, Maryland, where he was convicted of first-degree murder and attempted murder involving MS-13 gang members. Meanwhile, Matthew Tanner of Trenton, New Jersey, received a 65-year sentence for the 2021 murder of Daquan Basnight during an annual memorial party known as "Sha-Day." Tanner was convicted of first-degree murder and weapons charges after surveillance footage and forensic evidence showed he ambushed Basnight, shooting him multiple times. Prosecutors highlighted Tanner's deliberate actions, including leaving the party to change clothes before returning to commit the shooting. Both cases involved extensive investigations by local police and task forces, with strong evidence including eyewitness accounts, forensic findings, and video surveillance.