Leader’s Orders Resulted in Four Murders and an Attempted
Murder
NEWARK, N.J. – Three members of the New Jersey set of the
violent street gang “Grape Street Crips” – including its long-time leader –
were convicted by a federal jury today of racketeering conspiracy and a host of
murders, shootings, and drug trafficking crimes, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito,
FBI Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie and DEA Special Agent in Charge
Valerie A. Nickerson announced.
The leader of the enterprise, Corey Hamlet, a/k/a “C-Blaze,”
a/k/a “Blaze,” a/k/a “Blizzie,” a/k/a “Castor Troy,” 41, of Belleville, New
Jersey; and associates Tony Phillips, a/k/a “Blue,” 27, of Newark; and Ahmad
Manley, a/k/a “Fresh,” a/k/a “Moddi G,” 32, of Summit, New Jersey, were
convicted following a two-month trial before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox
Arleo in Newark federal court. The jury deliberated for four days before
returning the verdicts. (A chart outlining the counts per defendant and maximum
potential penalties is attached below.)
“The jury’s verdicts are the culmination of this Office’s
investigation and prosecution of more than 60 members of the Grape Street
Crips, a violent criminal organization that committed murders and other acts of
violence in order to maintain control of a large portion of the illegal drug
trade in Newark,” U.S. Attorney Carpenito said. “Today’s convictions of Corey
Hamlet, the leader of that organization, as well as two of his senior gang
members, represent our steadfast, ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety of
New Jersey’s citizens and the communities in which they live. We will not back
down from our duty to protect the public through the investigation and
prosecution of violent and dangerous criminals like Hamlet and his gang.”
“The FBI is working
jointly with county and local authorities, to include the local community, to
combat the violent epidemic of gangs in our neighborhoods,” FBI Newark Special
Agent in Charge Ehrie said. “In this collaborative effort in delivering the
greatest impact toward restoring the community and bringing those bad seeds to
justice, the Grape Street Crips, one of the most violent Newark gangs, was
dismantled in this joint investigation. The gang was responsible for four
murders, an attempted murder, racketeering conspiracy and drug trafficking.
With the conviction of Corey Hamlet, the gang’s leader, and two of his
associates, the Grape Street Crips gang will have been dealt a serious blow.”
“The members of the Grape Street Crips have wreaked havoc in
the city of Newark for years by committing violent murders, shootings and drug
trafficking,” DEA Special Agent in Charge Nickerson said. “Now the residents of
Newark can rest easier knowing that these criminals have been convicted of
these serious charges. The collaboration between the DEA and our law
enforcement partners exemplified outstanding investigative efforts resulting in
the successful conviction of some of Newark’s most violent criminals. These
efforts will have a positive impact on our communities and the residents of
this great city.”
The defendants were charged in November 2016 in a 22-count
indictment charging 14 members and associates with, among other things, six
murders, 12 attempted murders, and numerous other violent and drug trafficking
crimes committed as part of the racketeering conspiracy. Twelve of the fourteen
defendants charged in the indictment have now been convicted. The two remaining
defendants, Hanee Cureton and Khalil Stafford, are pending trial.
An additional 68 members and associates of the Grape Street
Crips who were arrested in a coordinated takedown in May 2015 were separately
charged with drug-trafficking, physical assaults, and witness intimidation.
Sixty-six of those individuals also have been convicted, and charges remain
pending against two.
According to the documents filed in this case and other
cases and the evidence presented at trial:
The Grape Street Crips engaged for years in numerous acts of
murder, robbery, extortion, and drug trafficking throughout Newark. As the
leader of the New Jersey set of the Grape Street Crips, Hamlet authorized six
murders committed by members of the gang.
The trial highlighted numerous violent acts committed by
Grape Street Crips members as part of the racketeering conspiracy, some of
which targeted members of rival gangs and others that targeted Grape Street
Crips members whom Hamlet perceived to be a threat to his position as the
leader of the gang:
June 14, 2010: The
murder of Leroy Simmons;
Dec. 23, 2010: The
murder of Rodney Kearney;
May 3, 2013: The
murder of Tariq Johnson;
Oct. 27, 2013: The
attempted murders of Almalik Anderson and Saidah Goines.
Nov. 12, 2013: The
murder of Anwar West; and
August 3, 2015:
The murder of Andre Singh.
The trial revealed that Hamlet ordered many of the murders
as revenge against Almalik Anderson, a rival with whom he had a long-running
dispute. One of Hamlet’s fellow gang-members attempted to broker a truce with
Anderson at the Short Hills Mall. After the meeting at Short Hills, Hamlet used
his Instagram account to assert that Anderson had cooperated with law
enforcement. On Hamlet’s orders, Phillips, Manley, and other gang-members then
hunted Anderson down and sprayed his car with bullets, nearly killing him and
passenger Saidah Goines, a relative. Within two weeks, Hamlet successfully
ordered two other gang-members to murder Anwar West, the fellow gang-member who
had attempted to broker peace between Hamlet and Anderson.
Hamlet was convicted of 10 counts in the indictment,
including RICO conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, various other violent
crimes in aid of racketeering, using firearms during crimes of violence, and
conspiracy to distribute 28 grams or more of crack-cocaine. As part of the RICO
conspiracy, Hamlet was convicted for his role in the murders of Tariq Johnson
and Anwar West. Hamlet faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison.
Phillips was convicted of 10 counts in the indictment,
including RICO conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, various other violent
crimes in aid of racketeering, using firearms during crimes of violence, and
conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin. Phillips, too, faces a mandatory sentence of
life in prison.
Manley was convicted of eight counts in the indictment,
including RICO conspiracy. As part of
the RICO conspiracy, Manley was convicted for his role in the attempted murders
of Almalik Anderson and Saidah Goines. On two counts of conviction, Manley
faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, including a mandatory minimum term
of 15 years.
The evidence at trial also showed that members of the Grape
Street Crips controlled drug-trafficking at a number of Newark public-housing
complexes, including Oscar Miles, Riverview Court, Pennignton Court, Wynona
Lippman Gardens, Kemsco Village, John W. Hyatt housing complex, and the former
Baxter Terrace public-housing complex.
Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 15, 2018.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI,
under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ehrie in Newark, and special
agents of the DEA, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Nickerson
with the investigation. He also thanked the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office,
under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino, and the Essex
County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Armando B. Fontura, for their
long and close collaboration on the case
The case was tried by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Osmar J.
Benvenuto and Barry A. Kamar of the Criminal Division and Assistant U.S.
Attorney Richard J. Ramsay of the Appeals Division in Newark.
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 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 against the remaining two
defendants are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent
unless and until proven guilty.
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