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TRENTON
– Attorney General Anne Milgram and
Criminal Justice Director Deborah L. Gramiccioni
announced that one member of the Sex Money
Murder set of the Bloods street gang pleaded
guilty to racketeering today, and a second
member was sentenced to state prison for
distributing narcotics.
According to Director Gramiccioni,
Henry Lopez, 28, who is incarcerated in
South Woods State Prison, pleaded guilty
today to second-degree racketeering before
Superior Court Judge Anthony J. Mellaci
Jr. in Monmouth County. He admitted that
as a member of Sex Money Murder, he communicated
information within the prison system regarding
assaults to be carried out by the gang.
Under the plea agreement, the state will
recommend a four-year state prison sentence.
Judge Mellaci scheduled his sentencing for
Oct. 24.
In addition, gang member
Kazimu Shomari, aka Anthony Woods, 44, was
sentenced today to five years in state prison
by Judge Mellaci. Shomari, who already was
in South Woods State Prison on other charges,
pleaded guilty on May 21 to second-degree
distribution of a controlled dangerous substance.
Shomari admitted that on Feb. 18, 2007,
he distributed at least one-half ounce of
cocaine in the City of Passaic.
A third gang member, Royce
Hodges, 35, of Irvington, was sentenced
by Judge Mellaci on July 25 to four years
in prison with 30 months of parole ineligibility.
He pleaded guilty on May 21 to two counts
of third-degree distribution of heroin within
1,000 feet of a school. Hodges admitted
that on March 7 and 12, 2007, he distributed
heroin within 1,000 feet of the Alexander
Street School in Newark.
On Aug. 15, Judge Mellaci
is scheduled to sentence a fourth gang member,
Michael Rutledge, 21, of Newark, who pleaded
guilty on May 21 to two counts of second-degree
distribution of a controlled dangerous substance.
Rutledge admitted that on two occasions,
on May 2 and 17, 2007, he distributed at
least one-half ounce of cocaine in Newark.
He faces up to five years in state prison.
Supervising Deputy Attorney General Mark
Eliades, Chief of the Gangs & Organized
Crime Bureau, has prosecuted the cases.
Deputy Attorney General Philip Aronow handled
today’s hearings. The charges stem
from a cooperative investigation by the
New Jersey State Police, Division of Criminal
Justice, State Parole Board, Passaic County
Sheriff’s Department, Paterson Police
Department, Newark Police Department and
state Department of Corrections.
In September 2007, the Division of Criminal
Justice obtained two indictments, one charging
23 members of Sex Money Murder, including
the two alleged leaders in Mercer County
and the alleged leader in Monmouth and Ocean
counties, and a second charging 11 individuals,
including those who were in court today
and all three members of the state leadership
committee of Sex Money Murder.
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