BLOODS GANG MEMBERS CHARGED WITH OPERATING FOUR CRACK COCAINE AND HEROIN DRUG RINGS IN HUNTS POINT NEIGHBORHOODS

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson and New York City Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly announced today that nineteen Bloods gang members and individuals affiliated with them, have been arrested and charged with street sales of crack cocaine and heroin, at four different locations in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx. Investigators said that the four groups combined sold an estimated $1,500,000 worth of illegal drugs a year.

The defendants were taken into custody by detectives from the NYPD Bronx Gang Unit following a year long joint investigation with the Bronx District Attorney’s Gang Prosecution Unit.

The grand jury, in ten separate indictments, charged the defendants with a total of forty two counts, including Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 2nd degree, a Class A-II felony offense punishable by a maximum sentence of up to life imprisonment, Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd degree, a Class B felony offense punishable by a maximum term of 25 years imprisonment, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 3rd degree, a Class D felony offense which carries a maximum term of up to seven years imprisonment. All of the defendants are facing twenty five years imprisonment if convicted, but only one is also facing the possibility of life imprisonment if found guilty of the more serious Class A-II felony drug sale.

Mr. Johnson said: "These arrests should help to stem the ever present threat of violence that places hard working, law abiding community residents at risk as a result of drug related activity. For example, we are currently prosecuting two homicide cases involving other defendants with ties to these same four drug operations. "

Commissioner Kelly said: "These arrests stand as another example of the Department’s relentless effort to fight illegal narcotics and to put the violent gang members who deal them behind bars. Once again, our undercover detectives have played a pivotal role in capturing a group of dangerous criminals and bringing them to justice. I commend them for their persistence and courage, and I thank everyone who helped make this multi-agency case a success."

It is alleged that the gang members "acted in concert" in dealing primarily crack cocaine and heroin, as well as limited quantities of cocaine in powder form, at four locations within an area covered by the 41st Precinct. The drug deals occurred on Manida Street, between Spofford and Randall Avenues, the intersection of Gilbert and Faile Streets, the intersection of Spofford Avenue and Faile Street, and Hunts Point Avenue, between Lafayette and Coster Streets. During the course of the investigation, undercover detectives made thirty three drug "buys" between August 20, 2002 and June 6, 2003. Detectives also seized 899 glassine envelopes of heroin, 81 decks of cocaine, 1 1/2 ounces of powdered cocaine, 407 slabs of crack cocaine, an Intratec Tec-9 assault rifle and a loaded pistol.

Following is a list of the defendants in this case:

Investigators said that additional arrest are expected.

District Attorney Johnson and Commissioner Kelly thanked all of the Detectives and Assistant District Attorneys assigned to the NYPD Bronx Gang Unit, NYPD Bronx Narcotics, Major Case Squad, NYPD Bronx Homicide Task Force, Bronx DA Gang Prosecution Unit, Bronx DA Investigations Division, and Bronx DA Housing / Major Case Unit, for their dedication and hard work in developing this case.