Man Charged With Murder, Racketeering In Drugging And Robbing Scheme

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Task Force Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), Christopher Roberts, and the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, announced today the unsealing of a Superseding Indictment charging JALEN TEAGUE, a/k/a “Bizzle,” a/k/a “Too Official,” and CHELEIA COUNCIL SANDERS, a/k/a “Mercedes,” with racketeering conspiracy and TEAGUE with murder in aid of racketeering in connection with the August 16, 2023, poisoning death of a robbery victim in midtown Manhattan (“Victim-1”).  The Superseding Indictment also charges TEAGUE, SANDERS, and MEGAN STERNGAST, a/k/a “Megan - E Village,” with conspiring to distribute Gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid (“GHB”), resulting in death, in connection with Victim-1’s murder.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Vernon S. Broderick. 

“As alleged, Jalen Teague directed a group of workers to locate, drug, and then rob men in New York City and across the country,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “These defendants displayed a startling indifference for New Yorkers, resulting in the death of an innocent man.  We deeply appreciate our agency partners at DEA and NYPD for ensuring these charges and ending this deadly scheme.”

“The charges filed today against Jalen Teague for allegedly masterminding a scheme to target, rob, and poison unsuspecting victims, including one which resulted in death, reflect the devastating consequences when individuals use controlled substances as weapons,” said DEA New York Task Force Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Roberts.  “GHB is a powerful and dangerous illicit drug, and in this case its misuse proved fatal.  These crimes represent a profound violation of trust and a complete disregard for human life.  The DEA remains committed to protecting the public and working with our law enforcement partners to ensure justice is delivered for the victims and their families.”

As alleged in the Superseding Indictment, other court filings, and statements made during court proceedings:[1]

From at least in or about November 2022 through at least in or about June 2024, JALEN TEAGUE led a criminal enterprise and provided female workers with GHB, a rape drug that can cause users to lose consciousness.  The women then went to bars, restaurants, and clubs in several locations around the United States, including New York City, carrying GHB, often hidden inside small energy drink bottles.  There, at TEAGUE’s direction, the female workers looked for men wearing expensive watches or displaying other signs of wealth.  After identifying victims, the women would travel with the victims to their homes or hotel rooms.  Once alone with their victims, the women dosed—or “dropped”—the men by putting GHB into the victims’ drinks without the victims’ knowledge.  The victims would often lose consciousness or otherwise become vulnerable to robbery.  At TEAGUE’s direction, the women then frequently stole whatever they could, including luxury watches, wallets, credit cards, smartphones, gaming consoles, and identification documents for TEAGUE’s benefit. 

After the robberies, TEAGUE typically retrieved the women and would often attempt to use the stolen credit cards and cellphones to enrich themselves by transferring money using banking applications and buying gift cards and expensive electronics, among other things, before the owner of the credit cards woke up and could begin freezing accounts.  Between at least in or about November 2022 and in or about June 2024, the Teague Enterprise perpetrated approximately more than 100 GHB-assisted robberies in various locations around the United States.

Several victims of the Teague Enterprise’s GHB distribution scheme were hospitalized, and on August 16, 2023, TEAGUE caused the death of Victim-1 through this scheme.

If you believe you are a victim of the Teague Enterprise, please contact the Victim & Witness Services at the United States Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of New York at 866-874-8900.

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A chart containing the names, ages, charges, and minimum and maximum penalties for the defendants is set forth below.  

The statutory minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the DEA, the NYPD and Southern District of New York Digital Forensic Unit, the Complex Analytics and Social Media Enhancement Team at the New York/ New jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.  Mr. Clayton also thanked the New York County District Attorney’s Office for their invaluable assistance.

This case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebecca R. Delfiner and Joseph H. Rosenberg are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Superseding Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.