News
Release
Date:
February 08, 2012
Erin McKenzie-Mulvey
Public Information Officer
212 337-2906
Leader
and Three Members of Violent Jamaican
Drug Posse Convicted of Engaging in a
Continuing Criminal Enterprise, Narcotics
Trafficking and Firearms Offenses
Following
a four-week trial, a federal jury in Brooklyn
today returned a verdict convicting Christopher
Barret, also known as “the General,” “Mouthy” and “Solo,” the
leader of the “Fatherless Crew,” a
violent Jamaican “posse,” of
running a continuing criminal enterprise
that distributed thousands of pounds of marijuana
through the U.S. mail and brandishing firearms
in furtherance of his narcotics business.
Three of Barret’s enforcers, Leon Scarlett,
also known as “Piggy” and “Agony,” Omar
Mitchell, also known as “Sox,” and
Ryan Anderson, also known as “Dre,” were
convicted of marijuana trafficking charges.
Anderson was also convicted of carrying a
firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
A fifth defendant, Kareem Forrest, also known
as “Dooley,” pled guilty after
the first week of trial.
The
convictions were announced by Loretta E.
Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern
District of New York, Wilbert L. Plummer,
Acting Special-Agent-in-Charge, Drug Enforcement
Administration, New York Field Division,
and Ronald J. Verrochio, Inspector-in-Charge,
United States Postal Inspection Service,
New York Field Office, and Raymond W. Kelly,
Commissioner, New York City Police Department.
The “Fatherless
Crew” was originally founded in Rema,
a garrison community within inner-city Kingston,
Jamaica. The crew warred with rival gangs – particularly
the “Shower Posse” from neighboring
Tivoli Gardens – for territory. After
Barret was arrested for shooting an officer
of the Jamaican Constabulary Force in Kingston,
he posted bail and then promptly fled to
the United States. There, Barret established
a base in Queens, New York, and began recruiting
soldiers from the “Fatherless Crew” in
Jamaica to join his drug enterprise. Using
threats and violence, Barret and his crew
established a stranglehold over drug trafficking
in portions of Queens – particularly
the area surrounding Barret’s South
Ozone Park headquarters and stash house.
Trial
testimony established that on March 15, 2010,
members of Barret’s crew engaged in
a shootout with a rival drug gang following
a baby shower in St. Albans, Queens. A dispute
over a drug debt escalated into a gun battle
in the streets. Detectives from the NYPD
recovered more than 30 shell casings and
bullets, including one bullet that ricocheted
off the door of a neighboring daycare center.
One individual was shot in the chest during
the gunfight but survived. The government’s
evidence at trial also established that Barret
attempted to solicit the murder of a former
partner in the crew and ordered vicious assaults
of customers and workers over lost drugs
and money, and that members of the crew plotted
to murder potential witnesses and their family
members to obstruct the government’s
prosecution.
In
October 2010, following a year-long investigation,
a search and seizure operation at the crew’s
headquarters in Queens yielded nearly 300
pounds of marijuana, three loaded handguns
and a variety of drug trafficking paraphernalia,
including electronic scales, heat sealing
machines and a vehicle outfitted with a with
a hydraulic trap for concealing firearms.
To date, 15 members and associates of the “Fatherless
Crew” have been convicted of drug trafficking
and firearms offenses as a result of this
investigation.
“Barret
imported his brand of lawlessness from the
hills of Jamaica to the streets of Queens,
setting up a crew that lived by a code of
violence and total disregard for the law.
The defendants’ crew employed wanton
violence to enrich themselves putting in
mortal danger not only their competitors
in the drug trafficking business, but also
innocent residents in our community – including
children, as well as potential witnesses
and their family members. We are committed
to utilizing all resources at our disposal
to investigate and prosecute organized criminal
enterprises who engage in narcotics distribution
and street violence, stated United States
Attorney Lynch. “We will not rest until
our mission is accomplished.”
DEA
Acting Special-Agent-in-Charge Plummer stated, “As
you know, drug trafficking and violence have
a symbiotic relationship, and this investigation
led us to dismantle this drug trafficking
organization here in New York. The NY Drug
Enforcement task force worked diligently
with our law enforcement partners to keep
our streets safe from violent drug crews.” Mr.
Plummer would like to thank the New York
Drug Enforcement Task Force which is comprised
of agents and officers of the DEA, NYPD and
the New York State Police for their diligent
work throughout this multi-agency investigation.
Postal
Inspector-in-Charge Verrochio stated, “Postal
Inspectors will vigorously pursue and arrest
those individuals who use the mail to transport
and distribute illegal substances, putting
in danger the lives of innocent residents,
Postal employees and law enforcement personnel.”
NYPD
Commissioner Kelly stated, “This case
is an example of the relationship between
drugs and violent crime, where individuals
use illegal guns and battle rivals over a
drug trafficking market. I want to commend
the detectives, agents, and prosecutors who
worked together to bring Christopher Barret
aka ‘the General’ and his notorious
crew to justice.”
When
sentenced by United States District Judge
Kiyo A. Matsumoto, Christopher Barret faces
a minimum sentence of 27 years and a maximum
sentence of life. Defendant Ryan Anderson
faces a minimum sentence of 15 years and
a maximum sentence of life. Defendants Leon
Scarlett and Omar Mitchell each face minimum
sentences of 10 years and maximum sentences
of life.
The
government’s case is being prosecuted
by Assistant United States Attorneys Steven
L. Tiscione, Tyler J. Smith and Gina M. Parlovecchio.
The
Defendants:
Name: CHRISTOPHER BARRET
Age: 45
Name: RYAN ANDERSON
Age: 31
Name: LEON SCARLETT
Age: 49
Name: OMAR MITCHELL
Age: 37
|