Irvington Mayor Wayne Smith, U. S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie and FBI Special Agent in Charge Leslie G. Wiser, Jr. announced today that members of the “Crips” street gang that were responsible for the distribution of crack cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and illegal firearms in East Orange, Irvington and Newark neighborhoods were arrested in a series of sweeps last night and this morning.

 

Federal charges have been brought against 24 defendants alleged to be Crips street members who are named in any of seven federal Criminal Complaints that were signed on Sept. 11. The 24 gang members are part of loosely knit factions of Crips in East Orange, Newark and the Crescent Lane Housing Projects in Irvington, which includes sets known as “ Grape Street,” “Rolling 60s” and “Hoover 5-2.”

 

Twenty-two defendants were arrested throughout last night and into this morning in a series of sweeps by law enforcement. Five of the defendants were previously arrested or were in custody on unrelated charges. Two defendants, Eric Long, 23, a.k.a. “EG,” of Orange, and another unidentified individual have not been arrested at this time. During the arrests law enforcement seized a 9 mm handgun, a .38 caliber handgun, a shotgun, a bulletproof vest and approximately 40 grams of crack cocaine.

 

According to authorities, law enforcement seized approximately half a kilo of crack cocaine, 500 ecstasy pills, small amounts of heroin, $8500 in U. S. currency and a total of 16 guns throughout the investigation, which has spanned.

 

Eight of the East Orange Crips and 12 of the Crescent Lane Crips are charged with various drug trafficking offenses. Four other Crips members from Newark and Irvington, all of the Grape Street set, are charged with illegally trafficking in firearms. According to the Complaints, the firearms consisted of two SKS 7.62 mm assault rifles; a MAC-11 9 mm semi-automatic pistol; a Smith & Wesson .22 caliber handgun; a Walther 9 mm handgun; a Hi-Point .40 caliber handgun and a defaced firearm.

 

“The arrests send a strong and serious message on our commitment to public safety,” the mayor said. “We will not tolerate the illegal and anti-social behavior of those who seek to create havoc in our communities,” he added.

 

“The gun-running, drug dealing and general mayhem that has been gripping parts of Essex County is inspired by and perpetrated by gang members,” said Christie. “It’s got to stop, and all those gang thugs out there who want to run wild in our streets should give serious thought to what it means to do hard time in a federal prison in another state far from New Jersey.”

 

The investigation that resulted in the Complaints was led by the FBI and the Safe Streets Gang Task Force.

 

“The success of this operation highlights the positive interaction between federal and local law enforcement in their combined efforts to make our cities safer for the law abiding citizens of New Jersey,” said Special Agent in Charge Leslie G. Wiser. “The Safe Street Gang Task Force is a direct result of this positive interaction. Today’s arrests will have a significant impact in the fight against gang activity and an important step in our goal to cripple the Crips.”

 

The Crescent Lane Crips

 

One of the seven Criminal Complaints charges that between May 9, 2006 and August 31, 2006, ten alleged Crips gang members conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 5 grams of crack cocaine in the Crescent Lane Housing Projects in Irvington, New Jersey. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Those gang members named in that complaint are: Eric Corbin, 29, a.k.a. “Bang,” of Irvington, Freddie Doddard, 34, a.k.a. “Black,” of Irvington, David Jonathas, 19, a.k.a. “Cash,” of Union, Darrell Gray, a.k.a. “Frog,” of Irvington, Undra Crosby, 22, a.k.a. “Boje,” of Irvington, Rasheed Williams, 24, a.k.a. “Goldie Loc,” of Irvington, Quadir King, 24, a.k.a. “Dollar,” of Irvington, James Blocker, 20, a.k.a. “Trig,” of Irvington, Alonzo McMiller, 20, a.k.a. “A.J.,” of Irvington, and Kareem Campbell, 19, a.k.a. “K Rock,” of Irvington.

 

The East Orange Crips

 

A second complaint alleges that seven Crips gang members conspired to distribute crack cocaine, heroin and ecstasy (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)) in East Orange. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Those gang members named in that complaint are: Nyron Bridges, 21, a.k.a. “Loose Loc,” of East Orange, Eric Long, 23, a.k.a. “EG,” of Orange, Jamal Claxton, 27, a.k.a. “Khadafi,” of Newark, Darryl Bishop, 27, a.k.a. “Womack,” of East Orange, Leon Johnson, 26, a.k.a. “Triple H,” of Orange, Ernest Davis, 25, a.k.a. “Ern,” of East Orange, and Al-Malik Collins, 21, a.k.a. “Push,” of East Orange.

 

Crip Leaders or “Original Gangsters”

 

A third and fourth complaint individually charges two alleged Crip street gang leaders known as “Original Gangsters.”

 

Lamar Hunt, 22, a.k.a. “Mafia,” of Irvington, is charged with distributing ecstasy (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)) in East Orange. Another individual who is still being sought is charged with distributing ecstasy in Irvington. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

 

Firearms Trafficking

 

A fifth complaint alleges that between May 3, 2006 and June 13, 2006, Tariq Johnson, 18, a.k.a. “Freak,” of Irvington, and Jamal McClain, 22, a.k.a. “Mal G” of Irvington, conspired to engage in the business of dealing in firearms without a required federal license. According to the complaint, the defendants sold two SKS 7.62 mm assault rifles and 40 rounds of ammunition, a MAC-11 9 mm semi-automatic pistol with 61 rounds of ammunition, a Smith & Wesson .22 caliber handgun, a Walther 9 mm handgun with nine rounds of ammunition, as hi-Point .40 caliber handgun with nine rounds of ammunition, and agreed to sell another 9 mm handgun. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

 

A sixth complaint alleges that Ramon Morales, 21, a.k.a. “Ray Rizzo,” of Newark, and Kenneth Griffith, 19, a.k.a. “Nasty” of Newark, possessed a 9 mm Hi-Point Model 995 semi-automatic carbine with a defaced serial number, which they sold to an unidentified individual. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

 

The seventh complaint alleges that Basil Walker, 23, a.k.a. “Seal,” of Newark, illegally possessed a firearm after having been previously convicted of a felony. According to the complaint, Walker sold a shotgun to an unidentified individual. This offense carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

 

Each of the defendants arrested last night and today were making initial appearances in federal court throughout the day before U. S. Magistrate Judge Madeline Cox Arleo.

 

Despite being charged in a criminal complaint, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U. S. Constitution and federal law.

 

Christie credited Special Agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Wiser, along with law enforcement officers with the Essex County Sheriff Department, under the direction of Sheriff Armando Fontoura; the Essex County Department of Corrections, under the direction of Director Scott Faunce; the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Acting Chief Anthony Campos; Irvington Police Department, under the direction of Director Michael Damiano and Chief Michael Chase; and the East Orange Police Department, under the direction of Director Michael Cordero and Chief Michael Cleary, for the investigation of the case.

 

The government is represented by Assistant U. S. Attorney Joseph R. Gribko, of the U. S. Attorney’s Criminal Division in Newark.

 

 

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