Press Release

Seventy-One Defendants Charged In Long-Running Investigation Of Grape Street Crips Street Gang

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

For Immediate Release

U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Jersey

Charges Include Plot to Kill FBI Agent, Attempted Murders, Shootings in Aid of Racketeering, Drug Trafficking, and Witness Intimidation

NEWARK, N.J. –Seventy-one people have been charged in connection with a long-running, coordinated federal, state, and local investigation into the New Jersey set of the Grape Street Crips, a street gang allegedly responsible for violence and wide-spread drug-trafficking in the northern New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced today.

Today’s charges and arrests culminate three waves of arrests that started May 6, 2015, and resulted in 14 federal complaints charging 50 members and associates of the Grape Street Crips in that two-week span. These 50 defendants and their associates, along with another 21 defendants arrested previously and facing federal and state charges, actively controlled drug-trafficking and other illegal activities in various neighborhoods and public-housing complexes in Newark.

The charges are the result of a long-running investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the FBI, in conjunction with the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Newark Police Department and Essex County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Narcotics. The defendants arrested today are scheduled to appear this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judges Steven C. Mannion, Mark Falk and James B. Clark III in Newark federal court.

“As this investigation demonstrates, the New Jersey Grape Street Crips are allegedly one of the largest and most dangerous street gangs in Newark as well as a prolific narcotics trafficking organization that floods the streets New Jersey with heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine,” U.S. Attorney Fishman said. “The narcotics activities that the gang and its associates allegedly engage in directly affect the quality of life of law-abiding citizens who reside in cities and suburbs of northern New Jersey.”

“This criminal gang used violence and intimidation to maintain their drug enterprise in Newark,” Carl J. Kotowski, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division said. “The residents of Newark can be assured that the DEA will continue to pursue those people and organizations that cause them to live in fear.”

“Gangs are the mechanism by which drugs are transmitted to the ‘bad seeds’ in our cities, and are at the root of the violent crime problem,” FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Bradley W. Cohen said. “The FBI Newark Field Office is committed to making Newark, and its surrounding communities, a safe place to be. The most effective way to combat this epidemic of violence is through cooperation; the efforts of all law enforcement agencies with the support and understanding of the citizens to whom we protect and serve.”

In addition to controlling drug-trafficking across large swaths of Newark, the Grape Street Crips routinely engaged in acts of violence — including murder, shootings, aggravated assaults, and witness intimidation. A federal grand jury has returned a second superseding indictment charging two of the defendants – Kwasi Mack, a/k/a “Welchs,” 26, of Belleville, New Jersey, and Corey Batts, a/k/a “C-Murder,” a/k/a “Cee,” 30, of Newark, two leaders of the Grape Street Crips – with numerous violent crimes in aid of racketeering, including attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Batts and other gang members controlled drug-trafficking and other criminal activities near the Oscar Miles public-housing complex located on Court Street. Batts is charged by complaint with plotting to murder one of the special agents of the FBI investigating the gang.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

The Grape Street Crips are a nationwide street gang, founded in Los Angeles, California, and operating in New Jersey. In addition to engaging in drug-trafficking and other criminal activities to enrich themselves and fellow gang-members, the rules governing the gang provide that members must retaliate against individuals who cooperate with law enforcement. As a result, gang members routinely engage in acts of intimidation and violence against witnesses, individuals who are believed to be cooperating with law enforcement, and law enforcement officers themselves.

In March 2015, during the lawful wiretap of a cell phone used by Ahmed Singleton, 25, a/k/a “Gangsta-Mu,” a/k/a “Mooshie,” a member of the Grape Street Crips, the DEA intercepted Singleton detailing his efforts to intimidate a witnesses against him. Singleton was facing trial for aggravated assault in connection with a shooting. Singleton bragged about how he had “beat trial” by intimidating the main witness against him, saying he “had the goons in the back seat so, so he [the witness] recognized all the goons … lined up in the back, like, ‘Oh he got them goons in here, like,’ word up.” As a result, Singleton explained, the witness “ain’t wanna look at nobody eyes, you heard son?” Singleton also said that the attorney for the witness had told Singleton and Singleton’s attorney that the witness would “do the right thing,” meaning refuse to testify against Singleton, so that Singleton would not “take that [expletive] shit off when he come home for telling.” Singleton went on to brag: “I walked out of court free, [expletive], who you know do that? . . . . Who you know cause ruckus on these [expletive] streets, come home, do whatever the [expletive] they want, and still be out here son?” As a result of Singleton’s witness intimidation, the state charges against Singleton had to be dismissed.

In late 2013, a senior member of the New Jersey Grape Street Crips used a social media account to identify an individual as having previously cooperated with a murder investigation conducted by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. Several days after that social media post, several members of the Grape Street Crips repeatedly shot and nearly killed the individual who had been identified as having cooperated.

In late 2013, following the arrest of numerous gang members, law enforcement officials learned that members of the Grape Street Crips on the street had directed those members of the enterprise who were incarcerated at a county correctional facility to physically harm an individual who was believed to have cooperated with the law enforcement investigation.

On Oct. 2, 2014, a federal grand jury returned an 18-count second superseding indictment charging Mack and Batts with a variety of violent crimes in aid of racketeering, including attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit aggravated assault with a deadly weapon — multiple counts of using firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes and crimes of violence, conspiracy to distribute heroin, and possessing firearms after previously having been convicted of felony offenses.

The attempted murder charges stem from a dispute between the leadership of the Grape Street Crips and a long-time rival of the enterprise. (The attached table sets forth the charges and potential penalties.)

Batts was charged by federal criminal complaint with plotting to kill an FBI special agent and with solicitation of a crime of violence against the special agent. Batts was attempting to smuggle images of the special agent — obtained from the pretrial discovery turned over to Batts in connection with the above charges — to another gang-member in order to kill the special agent.

To protect their gang and drug territory, the Grape Street Crips operating in the 6th Avenue and North 5th Street area of Newark used “community guns” that were easily accessible to gang members. DEA special agents seized numerous firearms, including a .410 caliber assault rifle, a.45 caliber Thompson semi-automatic carbine, a 7.62 caliber assault rifle, and numerous semi-automatic handguns.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the DEA, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Kotowski, and special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Richard M. Frankel, for the investigation leading to the charges. Fishman also thanked prosecutors and detectives of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray; police officers and detectives of the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Director Eugene Venable and Chief Anthony Campos; and the Essex County Sheriff’s Office under the direction of Armando B. Fontoura, for their work on the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Osmar J. Benvenuto, Elizabeth M. Harris, Jose Almonte, and Barry Kamar of the Criminal Division in Newark.

The case against Batts for plotting to murder, and soliciting a crime of violence against, a special agent of the FBI is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dennis Carletta and Chief of the General Crimes Unit Zach Intrater, both of the Criminal Division.

This case was conducted under the auspices of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) and the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, a partnership, a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.

The charges and allegations contained in the federal criminal complaints and indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Name	Gang / Street Name(s)	Age	Residence	Date Charged	Charge(s) (Potential Term of Imprisonment)
Federal Prosecutions
Kwasi Mack	Welchs	26	Belleville	10/2/2014	Attempted murder (2 counts) (10 years each) Conspiracy to commit murder (10 years) Assault with a deadly weapon (3 counts) (20 years each) Heroin conspiracy (5 year man. min up to 40 years) Using firearm during a crime of violence and a drug trafficking crime (2 counts) (30 year man. min. up to life) Felon in possession of a firearm (10 year)
Corey Batts	C-Murder, Cee	30	Newark	10/2/2014	Solicitation to murder FBI agent (20 years) Retaliation against a federal official (10 years) Attempted murder (2 counts) (10 years each) Conspiracy to commit murder (10 years) Assault with a dangerous weapon (2 counts) (20 years each) Heroin conspiracy (10 year man. min. up to life) Heroin distribution (3 counts) (30 years each) Using a firearm during a crime of violence and a drug trafficking crime (2 counts) (35 year man. min. up to life) Felon in possession of a firearm (10 year)
Hakeem Vanderhall	Keem	31	East Orange	5/5/2015	Running a continuing criminal enterprise (20 year man. min. up to life) Conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine (10 year man. min. up to life)
Eric Concepcion	E-Wax, Wax, Eddie Arroyo	28	Clifton	5/5/2015	Running a continuing criminal enterprise (20 year man. min. up to life) Conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine (10 year man. min. up to life) Conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin (5 year man. min. up to life)
Jamar Hamilton	Gunner	26	Tottowa	5/5/2015	Running a continuing criminal enterprise (20 year man. min. up to life) Conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine (10 year man. min. up to life) Conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin (5 year man. min. up to life)
Tyquan Clark	Tah	28	Newark	5/5/2015	Running a continuing criminal enterprise (20 year man. min. up to life) Conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine (10 year man. min. up to life)
Justin Carnegie	Dew Hi	27	East Orange	5/5/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 1 kilogram or more of heroin (10 year man. min. up to life)
Ahmed Singleton	Gangsta-Moo	25	Newark	5/5/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 1 kilogram or more of heroin (10 year man. min. up to life)
Hanee Cureton	City	30	Springfield	5/13/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 1 kilogram or more of heroin (10 year man. min. up to life)
Khalil Stafford	Homicide, Stod	30	Newark	5/13/2015	Distribution of heroin (up to 20 years)
Toma Williams	T-Dubs	38	Newark	10/4/2014	Conspiracy to distribute 1 kilogram or more of heroin (10 year man. min. up to life)
Dennis Wright	Hersh	32	Newark	5/20/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin (5 year man. min. up to life)
Leonardo Arroyo	Leo	31	Newark	5/20/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack-cocaine (10 year man. min. up to life) Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine (5 year man. min. up to 40 years)
Ahmad Mann	P.O., P-Easy	36	Newark	5/20/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin (5 year man. min. up to life)
James S. Gutierrez	Bad News, Stevie G	24	Newark	5/5/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine (10 year man. min. up to life) Conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin (5 year man. min. up to life)
Sharod Caraway	Hot Rod	29	Newark	5/20/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin (5 year man. min. up to 40 years)
Larry D. Coleman	LA	27	Newark	5/20/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin (5 year man. min. up to 40 years)
Hakim S. Thomas*	Dollar	34	Newark	5/20/2015	Distribution of heroin (20 years)
Antonio Foye*	Steel	29	Newark	5/20/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine (10 year man. min. up to life)
Darrell Johnson	Scrilla	26	Newark	5/20/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine (10 year man. min. up to life)
Ernest Valentine	Bop	30	Newark	5/20/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine (10 year man. min. up to life)
Trae K. Roberts*	Trae Pound	22	Irvington	5/20/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine (10 year man. min. up to life)
Christopher Coelho	Brazil	27	Newark	5/5/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine (10 year man. min. up to life)
Tauheed Satchell*	Tah	26	Newark	5/20/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine (10 year man. min. up to life)
Willie T. Brooks	Animal	23	Newark	5/20/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine (10 year man. min. up to life)
Rakeem Hankerson	Rocco	24	Newark	5/20/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine (10 year man. min. up to life)
Max LaRue*	Max	25	East Orange	5/20/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine (10 year man. min. up to life)
Jarod Ravenell*	Roddy	27	Newark	5/20/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine (10 year man. min. up to life)
Louis Coston	Real Rell	25	Newark	5/7/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 1 kilogram or more of heroin (10 year man. min. up to life)
Tamir White*	Trauma	19	Newark	5/20/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine (10 year man. min. up to life)
Milton Latham	Murder	40		5/20/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin (5 year man. min. up to life)
Gabriel Henderson*	Gabe	35	Newark	5/20/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin (5 year man. min. up to life)
Vincent Carter	Vince, Vin	NA	Newark	5/20/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin (5 year man. min. up to life)
Raheem Powell	Nutty	32	Newark	5/20/2015	Distribution of heroin (20 years)
Brian Mitchell	Slash	25	Newark	5/20/2015	Distribution of heroin (20 years)
Earl Bullock	Ish	30	Newark	5/20/2015	Distribution of heroin (20 years)
Eugene Clemons*		65	Newark	5/20/2015	Distribution of heroin (20 years)
Hyshawn Butler	S-Dot	40	Newark	5/20/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine (10 year man. min. up to life)
Fatimah Johnson*	Faddy	25	Newark	5/20/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine (10 year man. min. up to life)
Vincent Livingston*	Double O	49	Irvington	5/20/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine (10 year man. min. up to life)
Samuel Cureton	Sammy	24	Irvington	5/20/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine (10 year man. min. up to life)
Jafforn Rock	Two Times	34	Newark	5/20/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine (10 year man. min. up to life)
Anthony Mosely	Stretch	20	Newark	5/20/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine (10 year man. min. up to life)
Freddy Brown*	Freddy	35	Newark	5/20/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine (10 year man. min. up to life)
Tyrone Dunson*	Rudy	28	Orange	5/20/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine (10 year man. min. up to life)
Oneil Concepcion	Bori	33	Newark	5/20/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine (5 year man. min. up to 40 years)
Wilfred Mendez*	Will	47	Newark	5/20/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine (5 year man. min. up to 40 years)
Monesha Johnson*	Smoove	35	Newark	5/20/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine (10 year man. min. up to life)
Keith Bowens*	Weefy	42	Jersey City	5/13/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 1 kilogram or more of heroin (10 year man. min. up to life)
Tarence Burks	Barack	42	Jersey City	5/13/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 1 kilogram or more of heroin (10 year man. min. up to life)
Jerome Lewis*	Pete	37	Jersey City	5/13/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 1 kilogram or more of heroin (10 year man. min. up to life)
Tequan Small	Tequan	29	Jersey City	5/13/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 1 kilogram or more of heroin (10 year man. min. up to life)
George Bell*	Nino	37	Jersey City	5/13/2015	Conspiracy to distribute 1 kilogram or more of heroin (10 year man. min. up to life)
Todd Carter	Oink	29	Newark		Distribution of heroin (20 years)
Tedmond Ashe	Wild Boy	34	Newark	12/31/2013	Felon in possession of a firearm (10 years)
Dwayne Harper	Buck	31	Newark	5/28/2014	Smuggling contraband into federal prison (sentenced to 1 year and 1 month in federal prison)
Mookadeen Cheeseboro		28	Newark	2/20/2014	Felon in possession of a firearm (sentenced to 5 years and 10 months in federal prison)
Bernard Anderson	BA	31	Newark	6/4/2014	Distribution of heroin (20 years)
Jihad Coles	Half Dead	30	Newark	11/18/2014	Conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack-cocaine (10 year man. min. up to life)
Marvin Eure	Man Man	21	Newark	2/11/2015	Distribution of heroin (20 years); Felon-in-possession of a firearm (10 years)
Haneef Sanders		22	Newark	10/7/2014	Felon in possession of a firearm (sentenced to 4 years and 2 months in federal prison)
Talib-Deen Kennedy	Tabills	21	Newark	6/20/2014	Use of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crime (sentenced to 5 years in federal prison)
Prosecution by Essex County Prosecutor’s Office
Ahmad Manley	Fresh, Moddi-G	29	Summit	3/18/2014	Murder
Kevin Francis	Tweakset	21	Newark	5/20/2015	Distribution of heroin
Rashan Washington	Shoota	25	Newark	4/6/2014	Aggravated assault with deadly weapon
Timothy Wright	Tim Tim	49	Newark	5/20/2015	Distribution of heroin
Terrence King	D-Bo	25	Newark	5/20/2015	Distribution of heroin
Alfatier Ward	Bones	30	Newark	5/30/2014	Distribution of heroin
Yasim Greene	Ya-Ya	23	Newark	05/20/2015	Distribution of heroin
Olajuwon Tillery	Chance	26	Newark	05/20/2015	Distribution of heroin
Devon Logan	Duncan	27	Newark	5/20/2015	Distribution of heroin