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Trenton
– Attorney General Anne Milgram and
Division of Criminal Justice Director Gregory
A. Paw announced that three members of the
“Sex Money Murder” set of the
Bloods gang were sentenced today to state
prison.
Reginald
Jackson, aka “Hamburger,” 24,
of Trenton, was sentenced by Superior Court
Judge Maria M. Sypek to 10 years in state
prison. In addition, Judge Sypek sentenced
Quassan Bethea, aka “Pesos,”
31, Trenton, and Ronell Dixon, aka “Ras,”
26, of Trenton, to seven and six years in
state prison respectively. Neither Bethea
nor Dixon will be eligible for parole for
three years.
On
June 18, the three defendants pleaded to
criminal accusations filed by the Division
of Criminal Justice. Jackson pleaded guilty
to first-degree racketeering and third-degree
unlawful possession of a weapon, Bethea
pleaded guilty to second-degree racketeering
and third-degree possession of a weapon,
specifically a .357 caliber revolver, and
Dixon pleaded guilty to second-degree racketeering
and second-degree distribution of cocaine.
“The
success of this operation against ‘Sex
Money Murder’ is due to a joint effort
involving 18 agencies within our state,”
Attorney General Milgram said. “The
Attorney General’s office will continue
to work aggressively to eradicate gangs
in New Jersey as one of our top priorities.”
“These
sentences underscore this office’s
resolve to take gang members off the streets
of New Jersey,” Director Paw added.
The defendants were arrested on Feb. 1 as
part of a multi-agency round-up of numerous
members of the violent Bloods street gang
coordinated by the New Jersey State Police
– Street Gangs Unit. The operation
targeted the gang’s presence in central
New Jersey - predominantly in Mercer, Monmouth
and Ocean counties.
In
2005, Trenton had its highest murder rate
ever with 31 deaths. Nineteen of those were
attributed to gang violence; the majority
of those were related to the Bloods. Furthermore,
over a five-day period in the spring of
2006, Bloods were believed to be responsible
for 15 Trenton shootings.
As
part of the ongoing investigation, Rashawn
McNair, 30, of Trenton, pleaded guilty today
before Judge Sypek to second-degree conspiracy
to distribute a controlled dangerous substance.
McNair admitted that he conspired with other
members of “Sex Money Murder”
to distribute more than five ounces of cocaine.
McNair is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept.
14. Second-degree crimes carry a sentence
of up to ten years in state prison and a
fine of up to $150,000.
Deputy
Attorney General Debra Conrad represented
the Division of Criminal Justice at the
guilty plea and sentencing hearings.
>>
Jackson,
Dixon, Bethea Guilty Pleas (38k
pdf) plug-in
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