Press Release
21 Alleged Southside York Gang Members Charged Federally With Racketeering Conspiracy
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Pennsylvania
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced today that a federal grand jury in Harrisburg has indicted 21 residents of York, Pa. known as members of the “Southside Gang” on charges of racketeering and drug trafficking conspiracy over a 12 year period.
The federal indictment charges that the Southside Gang is a criminal enterprise whose purpose is to protect its territory and power through intimidation, violence and threats, generate profits primarily through open-air drug dealing within its territory and violent crime, defend and retaliate on behalf of gang members, and assist members through retaliation against witnesses and thwarting efforts of law enforcement.
15 of the defendants are already in state or county prison, serving sentences for drug dealing and other violent crimes. Four men were taken into custody earlier today by ATF agents and York City Police in a coordinated operation. Four of the defendants were charged with conspiracy to distribute drugs in a federal indictment filed earlier this year.
The racketeering conspiracy indictment was filed last week under seal in the U.S. District Court in Harrisburg and unsealed today.
According to U.S. Attorney Peter Smith and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Essam E. Rabadi, the racketeering conspiracy indictment is the result of a massive two-year combined investigation by ATF, York City Police Department and the York County District Attorney’s Office with participation by the Pennsylvania State Police, West York Borough Police Department, Spring Garden Township Police Department, the York County Drug Task Force, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Consiglio is prosecuting the case.
“The alleged RICO offenses and resultant arrests today make certain that York City streets belong to its rightful residents and not to armed criminals. This is a stern and loud message not to join a street gang, not to illegally possess or misuse firearms, and not to pursue a life of crime,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Sam Rabadi. “ATF, along with our state and local partners, will continue a laser-like focus on investigating and removing armed gang members from our neighborhoods to prevent and reduce firearms related violence.”
The names of those charged in the indictment are listed below. Those taken into custody today appeared before Chief Magistrate Judge Martin C. Carlson in Harrisburg. All were held in custody pending detention hearings to be held at a future date.
According to the indictment, all 21 men are or have been members or participants in the Southside Gang, which is located in the southern area of the City of York. The center of the gang area is near Maple and Duke Streets in York, a location locally known as “the Jungle.”
The gang’s continuing presence allegedly functions through an organized structure, including senior leaders “who are feared and respected;” drug traffickers engaged in narcotics distribution; and “shooters,” who commit violent acts on behalf of the gang and to protect each other. Seniority is allegedly based on “generations,” i.e., ages of the members. The “older generation” of members rules by fear and intimidation; they direct or require the “younger generation” to engage in drug trafficking, robberies or shootings in support of the Southside Gang. Order is maintained through intimidation, threats, violence and, in some cases, murder.
The indictment alleges that defendant James Abney has been a principal leader and organizer, along with six other indicted individuals. The indictment also alleges that the Southside Gang includes a group of violent drug traffickers, originally affiliated with the “Bloods,” primarily a New York-based national violent street gang. The defendants who have been the alleged leaders of the drug source group are Rolando Cruz and Mark Hernandez.
The indictment alleges criminal acts, including 15 listed in the indictment, involving violence against a rival York gang, called “Parkway,” allegedly resulting in deaths of members of both gangs and innocent bystanders.
At the same time, Southside Gang members allegedly distribute illegal drugs, mainly crack cocaine, as a major part of the criminal enterprise’s business and used and possessed firearms to protect the drugs. The indictment alleges 62 such acts carried out in furtherance of the conspiracy.
According to U.S. Attorney Smith, many gang members involved in specific drug offenses and violent acts have been investigated and prosecuted by York and York County law enforcement agencies for years as individual cases. The federal prosecution aims at dismantling the organization by exposing and attacking its ongoing structure and leadership. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and ATF noted that the federal investigations of gang violence and drugs in York are continuing in full cooperation with local police and the York County District Attorney’s Office.
In a separate case involving violent crime activity in York, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced the indictment last week of Jermaine Johnson, a/k/a “Face”, age 39, on charges of possession of ammunition as a felon. Johnson was arrested in New York yesterday on the basis of a federal arrest warrant issued in Harrisburg.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
A sentence following a finding of guilty is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
In this case, the maximum penalty under the federal statute is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant’s educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
Name and Street Name |
Age |
Rolando Cruz, a/k/a “Mico” |
29 |
29 |
|
Douglas Kelly, a/k/a “Killer” |
36 |
Roscoe Villega, a/k/a “P Shawn” |
40 |
James Abney, a/k/a “Doocs” |
28 |
Tyree Eatmon, a/k/a “Ree” |
26 |
Jahkeem Abney, a/k/a “Foo” |
24 |
Maurice Atkinson, a/k/a “Mo” |
27 |
Anthony Sistrunk, a/k/a “Kanye” |
26 |
Cordaress Rogers, a/k/a “Tank” |
28 |
Eugene Rice, a/k/a “B Mor” |
26 |
Angel Schueg, a/k/a “Pocko” |
24 |
Marquis Williams, a/k/a “Quis” |
26 |
Jalik Frederick, a/k/a “Murder Cat” |
21 |
Brandon Orr, a/k/a “B Or” |
22 |
Malik Sturdivant, a/k/a “Base” |
22 |
Jabree Williams, a/k/a “Minute” |
23 |
Ronald Payton, a/k/a “Ron Ron” |
22 |
Jerrod Brown, a/k/a “Boogie” |
25 |
Quintez Hall, a/k/a “Q” |
21 |
Richard Nolden, a/k/a “Rich” |
24 |
Updated April 17, 2015
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