TRENTON
- Attorney General Peter C. Harvey and
Division of Criminal Justice Director
Vaughn L. McKoy today announced that 16
individuals, including reputed local leaders
and members of the violent "Bloods"
street gang, have been arrested on drug
and racketeering charges as part of a
six-month investigation targeting a multi-kilo,
multi-million dollar cocaine distribution
network based in Trenton. More arrests
are expected in the ongoing investigation.
According to the Attorney General, the
arrests and charges resulted from an extensive
joint-agency investigation stemming from
the Attorney General’s "Gangs,
Guns and Drugs" initiative. The investigation
was led by the New Jersey Division of
Criminal Justice, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s
Office, the Trenton Police Department,
and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
(DEA), with assistance from the Monmouth
County Prosecutor’s Office, Mercer
County Sheriff’s Department, Hamilton
Township Police Department, and New Jersey
National Guard.
"Through
this concerted multi-agency operation,
we have arrested the reputed leader and
key members of Trenton’s largest
powder cocaine distribution network -
a network linked to the Bloods street
gang," said Attorney General Harvey.
"Gang violence is turning our communities
into firing ranges, as we saw here in
Trenton on August 28, when gang-related
shootings claimed the lives of two people,
including a young woman struck by a stray
bullet while sitting on her porch. By
taking down the leadership of these gangs,
we are hoping to make the streets of this
city safer for everyone."
Joining
Criminal Justice Director McKoy to announce
the arrests and details of the investigation
were Deputy United States Attorney Lee
A. Solomon; Michael Pasterchick, Jr.,
Special Agent-in-Charge, Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) - New Jersey Division;
Mercer County Prosecutor Joseph L. Bocchini
Jr.; Chief State Investigator Anne Kriegner,
Division of Criminal Justice; Director
Joseph Santiago, Trenton Police Department;
Col. John Sheard, New Jersey National
Guard; Mercer County Sheriff Kevin Larkin;
Luis A. Valentin, Monmouth County Prosecutor;
and representatives of other federal,
state, county, and municipal law enforcement
agencies.
"This
is an example of the outstanding results
that can be achieved when agencies work
together to attack the scourge of drugs
and the activities of drug gangs responsible
for increased violence associated with
illegal drug distribution," said
Criminal Justice Director McKoy. "After
identifying Omar Aikens as an alleged
multi-kilo cocaine distributer in Trenton,
the Division of Criminal Justice-led law
enforcement coalition took the investigation
to the streets of Trenton, where we snared
other gang members in his distribution
network. The investigation tracked to
Texas, where federal authorities continued
the investigation by targeting Aiken’s
alleged cocaine supplier."
"This
is a serous blow to the sub-culture of
violent gangs and drug dealers that have
become more and more brazen in Trenton,"
said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie.
"We talk a lot about what can happen
when law enforcement cooperates, but this
truly is an optimum result: local, state,
and federal officers and prosecutors sharing
investigative information, taking down
and charging defendants under federal
and state law, getting drug dealers, gang
members and guns off the streets."
"Operation
Capital City began as a result of the
escalating gang violence in Trenton. Because
of the rapport developed between federal,
state, county, and local law enforcement
agencies through our Violent Crime Interdiction
Task Force, Operation Capital City was
a success. Law enforcement agencies are
improving their communication, sharing
information, and working together toward
the common goal of removing the scourge
of violent criminal gangs from our streets,"
said Mercer County Prosecutor Bocchini.
"The Mercer County Chiefs of Police
Association has recognized that gang activity
knows no boarders and has committed substantial
resources to this fight. As a county and
a law enforcement community, Mercer is
committed to making our streets safe for
law abiding citizens and their families.
I urge citizens to report gang activity
because only in a true law enforcement
and community partnership can we be successful."
"We
will continue to provide federal resources
to our state and local law enforcement
partners in order to dismantle and eliminate
violent drug trafficking organizations,"
said DEA Special Agent- In-Charge Pasterchick.
"The cooperation between agencies
was paramount to the success of this criminal
organization being significantly eradicated."
"The
commitment of the Trenton Police Department
to combat the drug epidemic and the gang
problem that we are being confronted with
has been a priority of our department,"
Director Santiago said. "Operation
Capital City" has only demonstrated
the commitment and resolve of our City
to eradicate the drug and gang situation
that is affecting the daily lives of our
citizens."
"The
participating agencies have worked very
hard on this investigation because we
know what is at stake," said Chief
State Investigator Kriegner. "Violent
street gangs pose a threat to all Trenton
residents, not just gang members. We hope
these arrests will reduce the violence
on Trenton’s streets and improve
the quality of life for its residents."
Three
Trenton residents - considered the leaders
and violent members of the alleged drug
distribution network - were arrested and
charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering
and distribution of a controlled dangerous
substance (cocaine) on Aug. 29. The lead
defendants are identified in arrest warrants
as:
- Omar
Aikens, 25, Oak Lane, Trenton, Mercer
County, reputed to be Trenton’s
largest cocaine distributer and area
leader of the "Sex, Money, Murder"
faction of the "Bloods" street
gang, was arrested on federal drug charges.
Aikens was held without bail and remanded
to federal custody after a bail hearing
before U. S. Magistrate John Hughes
on Thurs., Sept. 1;
- Bernard
Green, a/k/a. Petey Black, 23, Old Rose
Street, Trenton, Mercer County, reputed
area leader of the "Gangster Killer
Bloods" faction of the Bloods.
Green was previously charged with attempted
homicide in connection with gang-related
shootings in Trenton on Aug. 28, and;
- Jerome
Roberts, 35, Chestnut Street, Trenton,
Mercer County. Roberts was arrested
on state drug distribution and racketeering
charges.
Thirteen
additional gang members were arrested
in coordinated raids on Friday, Sept.
2. Five other individuals – two
already in custody on unrelated charges
and three who remain fugitives –
were charged Friday with drug offenses
as a result of the operation. Assisting
in the execution of search and arrest
warrants on Sept. 2 were the New Jersey
State Police Troop "C" TEAMS
unit and the Washington Township, Hopewell
Township, Princeton Township and Princeton
Borough police departments.
According
to Criminal Justice Director McKoy, the
investigation focused on the alleged drug
distribution activities of Aikens who
allegedly obtained powder cocaine from
a Mexican drug cartel through a supplier
based near Houston, Texas. The supplier
allegedly sent cocaine to Aikens in packages
of five to ten kilograms via overnight
mail or via drug couriers who used public
transportation. A kilo of powder cocaine
has a street value of roughly $50,000.
On
a number of occasions, Operation Capital
City assisted in directing law enforcement
to areas in Trenton where gang violence
was reported to be imminent, thereby preventing
violence. In addition, working with the
Mercer County Prosecutor’s Homicide
Unit, the cooperating agencies developed
critical information regarding four homicides
in Trenton.
In
June, Green was arrested and, while in
custody, threatened a Trenton police officer
and his family. Investigators subsequently
alerted area law enforcement agencies
of the danger of gang-related retaliation
against police officers by members of
this drug network.
In
connection with the investigation, authorities
have seized cocaine with a street value
of nearly $1 million, more than $285,000
in cash and bank accounts, $200,000 in
jewelry, seven vehicles, and numerous
weapons, including a .45-caliber Thompson
submachine gun, a 9 mm Intratec TEC 9
semi-automatic pistol, two shotguns, two
rifles and seven handguns.
Criminal
Justice Director McKoy commended the dedicated
efforts of all of the investigators, including
Supervising State Investigator Allan Buecker,
State Investigator Brian Kiely and State
Investigator Tim Savage of the Division
of Criminal Justice; Lt. William Straniero
and Detective Michael Novembre of the
Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office;
Lt. Daniel Pagnotta Jr. and Detective
Gary Britton of the Trenton Police Department;
Special Agent Eric Brown of the DEA; Deputy
Chief Guy McCormack and Capt. Brian Rubino,
Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
Criminal
Justice Director McKoy noted that many
of the cases will be presented to the
State Grand Jury for indictment, while
other cases will be prosecuted by the
Mercer County Prosecutor’s office
and/or by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Assistant Attorney General Terry Merced
and Deputy Attorney General Frank M. Gennaro
assigned to the Division of Criminal Justice
- Major Narcotics Bureau coordinated the
ongoing investigation and prosecution.
In announcing the arrests, Criminal Justice
Director McKoy noted that the Attorney
General’s Office - Division of Criminal
Justice is coordinating a statewide law
enforcement initiative targeting illegal
drug distribution and gang activities
across the state. The "Gangs, Guns
& Drugs" initiative centers on
the deployment of State Investigators
from the Division of Criminal Justice
working with numerous federal, state,
county and local law enforcement agencies.
In the interest of investigative security
and pursuant to established court requirements,
the Attorney General’s Office, the
Division of Criminal Justice, and the
other law enforcement agencies involved
are limited in discussing specific details
regarding the ongoing investigation and
the alleged conspiracies. All persons
charged in criminal complaints are presumed
innocent unless and until proven guilty
in a court of law.
A list of the individuals arrested and
the charges filed is attached to this
press release. Additional information
is available via the Division of Criminal
Justice Web Page at www.NJDCJ.org.
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Operation
Capital City Defendant List
- Gary
G. Ainsley, aka "G"
2C:5-2 and 2C:41-2(d) Conspiracy to
commit
17 Newell Avenue Racketeering and Distribution
of a CDS
Trenton, NJ In custody - $50,000 Bail
DOB: 12/29/78 Gang Member - "Sex,
Money Murder" Bloods
- Carlos
Berry aka "Los" 2C:35-5a(1)
and 2C:35-5b(1) Distribution of a CDS
310 Brinton Avenue 2C:5-2 and 2C:41-2(d)
Conspiracy to commit
Trenton, NJ Racketeering and Distribution
of a CDS
DOB: 9/5/72 2C:41-1 Racketeering
In Custody - $250,000 Bail
Gang Member - "Gangster Killer
Blood (GKB)" Bloods
- Jermel
Carter
aka "Hood" 2C:5-2 and 2C:41-2(d)
Conspiracy to commit
491 Stuyvesant Avenue Racketeering and
Distribution of a CDS
Trenton, NJ In custody - $50,000 Bail
DOB: 9/3/82 Gang Member- "Sex,
Money Murder" Bloods
- Shawn
T. Davis aka "Little"
2C:5-2 and 2C:41-2(d) Conspiracy to
commit
65 Christoph Street Racketeering and
Distribution of a CDS
Trenton, NJ In custody - $50,000 Bail
DOB: 7/12/75
- Ronnie
Elder 2C:5-2 and 2C:41-2(d)
Conspiracy to commit
113 Anderson Street Racketeering and
Distribution of a CDS
Trenton, NJ 2C:41-1 Racketeering
DOB: 7/9/73 In custody - $500,000 bail
- Mark
Feggans 2C:5-2 and 2C:41-2(d)
Conspiracy to commit
41 Harding Street Racketeering, Distribution
of a CDS, and weapons
Ewing Twp, NJ violations
DOB: 9/2/77 In custody - $100,000 bail
- Jermaine
Gibson 2C:5-2
and 2C:41-2(d) Conspiracy to commit
138 Hoffman Avenue Racketeering and
Distribution of a CDS
Trenton, NJ
DOB: 6/4/72
- Rasheen
Hollins aka "New York
Rob" 2C:5-2 and 2C:41-2(d) Conspiracy
to commit
211 Perry Street Racketeering and Distribution
of a CDS
Trenton, NJ
DOB: 5/29/79
- Demetrius
Lewis aka "Bleek"
2C:5-2 and 2C:41-2(d) Conspiracy to
commit
29 Ellsworth Avenue Racketeering and
Distribution of a CDS
Trenton, NJ
DOB: 12/3/83
Gang member - "Sex, Money Murder"
Bloods
- Frankie
Mack
2C:5-2 and 2C:41-2(d) Conspiracy to
commit
225 Beechwood Avenue, Apt. 108 Racketeering
and Distribution of a CDS
Trenton, NJ In custody - $50,000 bail
DOB: 7/23/63
- Melvin
Marrero 2C:5-2 and 2C:41-2(d)
Conspiracy to commit
342 Tulip Street Racketeering and Distribution
of a CDS
Browns Mills, NJ
DOB: 9/26/74
- Kenneth
Miller
2C:5-2 and 2C:41-2(d) Conspiracy to
commit
141 S. Cook Avenue Racketeering and
Distribution of a CDS
Trenton, NJ In custody - $250,000 bail
DOB: 10/6/70
- Daniel
Sabree 2C:5-2 and 2C:41-2(d)
Conspiracy to commit
9071 Mill Creek Road Racketeering and
Distribution of a CDS
Levittown, PA In custody - $50,000 bail
DOB: 3/15/74
- Darnell
Thomas aka "New York"
2C:5-2 and 2C:41-2(d) Conspiracy to
commit
278 Hillcrest Avenue Racketeering and
Distribution of a CDS
Trenton, NJ
DOB: 1/17/78
- Dwayne
L. Thomas aka "Wiz"
2C:5-2 and 2C:41-2(d) Conspiracy to
commit
1324 Edgewood Avenue Racketeering and
Distribution of a CDS
Trenton, NJ In custody - $50,000 bail
DOB: 9/27/91
- Eugene
Thomas, aka "Cat Daddy"
2C:5-2 and 2C:41-2(d) Conspiracy to
commit
440 Stuyvesant Avenue Racketeering and
Distribution of a CDS
Trenton, NJ In custody - $50,000 bail
- Ronald
Warren 2C:5-2 and 2C:41-2(d)
Conspiracy to commit
630 West State Street Racketeering and
Distribution of a CDS
Trenton, NJ In custody - $50,000 bail
DOB: 4/14/45
- Ronnie
Wright 2C:5-2 and 2C:41-2(d)
Conspiracy to commit
418 Wilfred Avenue Racketeering and
Distribution of a CDS
Trenton, NJ In custody - $100,000 bail
DOB: 3/15/74
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