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TRENTON
– Attorney General Paula T. Dow and
Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor
announced the indictment today of 13 people,
including two alleged leaders and other
members of a drug trafficking ring that
distributed narcotics in a violent Jersey
City neighborhood.
According
to Director Taylor, the indictment stems
from Operation Wetlands, an investigation
by the New Jersey State Police, Jersey City
Police Department, Division of Criminal
Justice, Hudson County Prosecutor’s
Office and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
The drug ring, which included some members
of the Sex Money Murder set of the Bloods
street gang, sold PCP, heroin and marijuana
in the violence-plagued Greenville section
of Jersey City.
The
40-count state grand jury indictment charges
two men, Dempsey Collins, aka “Da”
or Demps,” 30, of Jersey City, and
David Gilliens, aka “Good Dude”
or “GD,” 29, of Jersey City,
with the crime of leader of a narcotics
trafficking network, a first-degree offense
that carries a sentence of life in prison,
including 25 years without possibility of
parole. Collins allegedly had authority
over the criminal enterprise, dictating
the prices at which narcotics were sold,
where and when drugs were sold, who sold
what quantities, and how profits were divided.
Gilliens allegedly had more hands-on leadership
of the daily operations of the criminal
enterprise.
One
defendant, Kwadir Felton, 19, of Jersey
City, faces weapons charges in connection
with an armed confrontation with Sgt. Thomas
McVicar of the Jersey City Police Department,
which occurred on Jan. 10, 2010 while McVicar
was conducting surveillance for this investigation.
McVicar shot and wounded Felton in the head,
after Felton allegedly crouched down by
the officer’s unmarked car, chambered
a round in a 9 mm handgun, and pointed the
gun at McVicar.
“This
is an outstanding example of an investigation
that joined all levels of law enforcement
– state, local, county and federal
– to target a drug network with ties
to the Bloods street gang,” said Attorney
General Dow. “In these times of shrinking
budgets, this type of cooperative investigation
can leverage our law enforcement resources
to have a major impact on crime.”
“This
was a targeted investigation to take down
a criminal network that brought drugs and
guns into a violent section of Jersey City,”
said Director Taylor. “We are working
to protect residents and improve their quality
of life by taking these criminal elements
off of the street.”
All
13 defendants (nine men and four women)
are charged in the indictment with second-degree
conspiracy to distribute narcotics and launder
money. Second-degree crimes carry a maximum
sentence of 10 years in state prison. The
indictment charges six defendants with various
drug offenses. Five are charged with first-degree
offenses. They are Collins, Gilliens, Ashmire
“Mimi” Jones, 26, of Jersey
City, Thomas Johnson, 22, of Jersey City,
and Narrell Lytch, 31, of East Orange. The
first-degree drug charges carry a maximum
sentence of 20 years in prison.
Felton
and Rasheed Boney, 20, of Jersey City, each
face second-degree weapons charges. Felton
is also charged with aggravated assault
for allegedly pointing the loaded gun at
Sgt. McVicar. Seven other defendants who
served as street-level dealers previously
pleaded guilty in the case, and two juveniles
were adjudicated delinquent in family court.
Collins and Gilliens are charged with the
second-degree crime of employing a juvenile
in a drug distribution scheme.
As
a result of arrests made during the investigation
and search warrants that were executed,
evidence was seized including approximately
32 ounces of PCP, 35 bricks of heroin, a
small amount of marijuana and oxycodone,
two handguns, and approximately $32,000
in cash. Detectives arrested all of the
defendants named in the indictment on or
before Feb. 18, 2010.
The
law enforcement partners for Operation Wetlands
were part of the Violent Enterprise Source
Targeting (V.E.S.T.) program, begun by the
DEA to dismantle criminal organizations
in New Jersey. Undercover troopers and officers
made drug buys and conducted extensive surveillance
to discern the scope, membership and hierarchy
of this drug trafficking network.
Deputy
Attorney General Erin Callahan presented
the case to the state grand jury for the
Division of Criminal Justice Gangs &
Organized Crime Bureau. The investigation
was led by Detective Sgt. Thomas Ryan and
Detective Rebecca Velez of the New Jersey
State Police Street Gang North Unit, and
Sgt. Steven Trowbridge and Police Officer
Anthony Goodman of the Jersey City Police
Department. Attorney General Dow also credited
the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office
and the DEA for their valuable assistance.
The Hudson County Sheriff’s Office
assisted in the arrests. The Attorney General
thanked all of the individuals who worked
on the investigation for the participating
agencies.
The
following defendants are charged in the
indictment:
Alleged
Leaders
- Dempsey Collins, 30, of Jersey City
- David Gilliens, 29, of Jersey City
Alleged
Street-Level Supervisors
- Vanquan Rush, 26, of Jersey City
- Thomas Johnson, 22, of Jersey City
- Jermaine Mitchell, 29, of Jersey City
- Rasheen Rice, 31, Jersey City
Alleged
Street-Level Sellers
- Ashmire Jones, 26, of Jersey City
- Kwadir Felton, 19, of Jersey City
- Narrell Lytch, 31, of East Orange
- Rasheed Boney, 20, of Jersey City
- Kanisha Mallard, 30, of Jersey City
- Kim Jones, 44, of Jersey City
Allegedly Laundered Money
- Delilah Collins, 26, of Jersey City.
She is Dempsey Collins’ sister.
The
indictment is merely an accusation and the
defendants are presumed innocent until proven
guilty. The indictment was handed up to
Superior Court Judge Linda R. Feinberg in
Mercer County, who assigned the case to
Hudson County. A copy of the indictment
is posted with this release at www.njpublicsafety.com.
The
indictment charges the defendants as follows,
with the potential penalties listed:
Count
One -
Leader of Narcotics Trafficking Network
(First Degree)
Life, 25 years of parole ineligibility/$750,000
fine
(Dempsey Collins/David Gilliens)
Count
Two -
Conspiracy (Second Degree)
5 - 10 years/$150,000 fine
(Dempsey Collins, David Gilliens, Ashmire
Jones, Vanquan Rush,
Rasheen Rice, Thomas Johnson, Kwadir Felton,
Narrell Lytch, Rasheed
Boney, Jermaine Mitchell, Kanisha Mallard,
Kim Jones, Delilah Collins)
Count
Three -
Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous
Substance (PCP, First Degree)
10 - 20 years/$500,000
(Ashmire Jones)
Count
Four -
Distribution Within 1,000 Feet of School
Property (PCP, Third Degree)
3-5 years/$150,000
(Ashmire Jones)
Count Five -
Distribution Within 500 Feet of Public
Property (PCP, Second Degree)
5-10 years/$150,000
(Ashmire Jones)
Count
Six -
Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance
(PCP, Third degree)
3-5 years/$35,000
(Ashmire Jones)
Count
Seven -
Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous
Substance (PCP, First Degree)
10 - 20 years/$500,000
(Ashmire Jones, David Gilliens)
Count
Eight -
Distribution Within 1,000 Feet of School
Property (PCP, Third Degree)
3-5 years/$150,000
(Ashmire Jones, David Gilliens)
Count
Nine -
Distribution Within 500 feet of Public
Property (PCP, Second Degree)
5-10 years/$150,000
(Ashmire Jones, David Gilliens)
Count
Ten -
Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance
(PCP, Third degree)
3-5 years/$35,000
(Ashmire Jones, David Gilliens)
Count Eleven -
Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous
Substance (PCP, First Degree)
10 - 20 years/$500,000
(David Gilliens)
Count
Twelve -
Distribution Within 1,000 Feet of School
Property (PCP, Third Degree)
3-5 years/$150,000
(David Gilliens)
Count
Thirteen -
Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance
(PCP, Third degree)
3-5 years/$35,000
(David Gilliens)
Count
Fourteen -
Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous
Substance (PCP, First Degree)
10 - 20 years/$500,000
(David Gilliens)
Count
Fifteen -
Distribution Within 1,000 Feet of School
Property (PCP, Third Degree)
3-5 years/$150,000
(David Gilliens)
Count
Sixteen -
Distribution Within 500 Feet of Public
Property (PCP, Second Degree)
5-10 years/$150,000
(David Gilliens)
Count
Seventeen -
Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance
(PCP, Third degree)
3-5 years/$35,000
(David Gilliens)
Count
Eighteen -
Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous
Substance (PCP, First Degree)
10 - 20 years/$500,000
(David Gilliens)
Count
Nineteen -
Distribution Within 1,000 Feet of School
Property (PCP, Third Degree)
3-5 years/$150,000
(David Gilliens)
Count
Twenty -
Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance
(PCP, Third degree)
3-5 years/$35,000
(David Gilliens)
Count
Twenty-One -
Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous
Substance (PCP, First Degree)
10 - 20 years/$500,000
(Dempsey Collins, David Gilliens, Thomas
Johnson)
Count
Twenty-Two -
Distribution Within 1,000 Feet of School
Property (PCP, Third Degree)
3-5 years/$150,000
(Dempsey Collins, David Gilliens, Thomas
Johnson)
Count
Twenty-Three-
Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance
(PCP, Third degree)
3-5 years/$35,000
(Dempsey Collins, David Gilliens, Thomas
Johnson)
Count
Twenty-Four-
Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous
Substance (PCP, First Degree)
10 - 20 years/$500,000
(David Gilliens)
Count
Twenty-Five-
Possession With Intent to Distribute CDS
(PCP, First Degree)
10 - 20 years/$500,000
(Narrell Lytch)
Count
Twenty-Six -
Possession With Intent to Distribute Within
1,000 Feet of School
(PCP, Third Degree) 3-5 years/$150,000
(Narrell Lytch)
Count
Twenty-Seven-
Money Laundering (Third Degree)
3-5 years/$75,000
(Narrell Lytch)
Count
Twenty-Eight-
Employing a Juvenile in a Drug Distribution
Scheme (Second Degree)
5 - 10 years/$500,000
(Dempsey Collins, David Gilliens)
Count
Twenty-Nine-
Possession With Intent to Distribute a
Controlled Dangerous Substance
(Heroin, Second Degree)
5-10 years/$200,000
(Dempsey Collins, David Gilliens)
Count
Thirty-
Possession With Intent to Distribute Within
1,000 Feet of School Property
(Heroin, Third Degree)
3-5 years/$150,000
(Dempsey Collins, David Gilliens)
Count
Thirty-One-
Possession With Intent to Distribute Within
500 feet of Public Property
(Heroin, Second Degree)
5-10 years/$150,000
(Dempsey Collins, David Gilliens)
Count
Thirty-Two-
Money Laundering (Third Degree)
3-5 years/$75,000;
(Dempsey Collins, David Gilliens, Delilah
Collins)
County
Thirty-Three-
Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful
Purpose (Second Degree)
5-10 years/$100,000;
(Rasheed Boney, Kwadir Felton)
Count
Thirty-Four-
Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (Second
Degree)
5-10 years/$150,000
(Kwadir Felton)
Count
Thirty-Five-
Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful
Purpose (Second Degree)
5-10 years/$150,000
(Kwadir Felton)
Count
Thirty-Six-
Aggravated Assault (Fourth Degree)
Up to 18 months/$10,000
(Kwadir Felton)
Count
Thirty-Seven-
Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (Second
Degree)
5-10 years/$150,000
(Rasheed Boney)
Count
Thirty-Eight -
Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance
(Heroin, Third Degree)
3-5 years/$35,000
(Kanisha Mallard)
Count
Thirty-Nine-
Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous
Substance (Heroin, Third Degree)
3-5 years/$75,000
(Dempsey Collins)
Count
Forty-
Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance
(Heroin, Third degree)
3-5 years/$35,000
(Dempsey Collins)
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