Jersey City Man Sentenced to 151 Months in Prison for Robbing Federal Credit Union

NEWARK—A Jersey City, New Jersey man was sentenced today to 151 months in prison for robbing the Liberty Savings Federal Credit Union in Jersey City in November 2010, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Stanley P. Powell, 42, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge William J. Martini in Newark federal court to an indictment charging him with one count of bank robbery. Judge Martini imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

On November 23, 2010, Powell entered the Liberty Savings Federal Credit Union in Jersey City wearing dark clothing, including a dark, hooded vest bearing a large hood-to-waist-length print of a human skeleton. Powell began yelling and cursing at the teller as he demanded money. Two bank tellers put money on the counter. Powell stuffed the money into a bag and fled the bank on foot until he reached the home of a relative in Jersey City. Powell stood on the front porch of the relative’s residence and began transferring the money from his bag into his pants pockets when he was approached by members of the Jersey City Police Department. Upon seeing law enforcement, Powell attempted to flee but was apprehended.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Martini sentenced Powell to three years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward in Newark; officers of the Jersey City Police Department, under the direction of Chief Thomas J. Comey; and the New Jersey Transit Police, under the direction of Chief Christopher Trucillo, with the investigation leading to today’s sentence.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jane H. Yoon of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.

Bloods Street Gang Member Sentenced to 89 Months in Prison in Racketeering Conspiracy

NEWARK—A Passaic County man who is a member of the Bloods street gang was sentenced today to 89 months in prison for his role in a racketeering conspiracy that included violent crimes and narcotics distribution, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Michael McCloud, a/k/a “Ike Brim,” 26, of Paterson, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler to one count of a second superseding Indictment filed in January 2011, which charged him with conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

McCloud, a member of the Fruit Town Brims (FTB) set of the Bloods, admitted to selling crack cocaine to an undercover officer on August 30, 2006, together with two other members of the gang. McCloud also admitted to participating in two robberies in Paterson in 2006. McCloud was involved in the robbery of a dice game in Paterson, in which a co-conspirator used an AK-47 and the gang members took controlled substances, cell phones, and money. He also conspired with other FTB members to commit a robbery, also involving a gun, in retaliation for the shooting of an FTB member by a member of a rival gang.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Chesler sentenced McCloud to three years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, under the Direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward—which includes members from the Newark Police Department, East Orange Police Department, Essex County Department of Corrections, Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, Jersey City Police Department, the New Jersey Division of Parole, and the Paterson Police Department—along with the New Jersey Department of Corrections, Special Investigations Division, with the investigation leading to the charges.

He also thanked the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Carolyn Murray; and the Special Operations Division’s National Gang Targeting, Enforcement, and Coordination Center, under the direction of Director John Sieder, for their important roles.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa L. Jampol, Lisa Colone, and Robert Frazer of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Organized Crime/Gangs Unit in Newark.

Member of the Bloods Street Gang Sentenced to 151 Months in Prison for Racketeering Conspiracy

NEWARK—A member of the Bloods street gang from Newark was sentenced today to 151 months in prison for a range of violent crimes and conspiring to distribute narcotics as part of a racketeering conspiracy in furtherance of the gang’s activities, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Ricky Coleman, a/k/a “Pool Stick,” a/k/a “Sticks,” 39, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler to one count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act in a second superseding indictment filed against him in January 2011. Judge Chesler imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Coleman, a member of the Brick City Brims (BCB)—a subset of the Fruit Town Brims (FTB) set of the Bloods—admitted that he conspired with BCB leader Altariq Gumbs, while Gumbs was in an Arizona state prison, to sell narcotics in Newark. Coleman acknowledged he sold heroin to a confidential informant on four occasions from October 2008 through March 2009. Gumbs pleaded guilty to the RICO conspiracy charge in July 2011 and is scheduled to be sentenced June 28, 2012. Coleman also conspired with another BCB member in May and June 2009 to send the proceeds of the sale of drugs to a ranking member of the FTB and BCB who was incarcerated in Newark’s Northern State Prison.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Chesler sentenced Coleman to three years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward—which includes members from the Newark Police Department, East Orange Police Department, Essex County Department of Corrections, Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, Jersey City Police Department, the New Jersey Division of Parole, and the Paterson Police Department—along with the New Jersey Department of Corrections, Special Investigations Division, with the investigation leading to the charges.

He also thanked the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Carolyn Murray; and the Special Operations Division’s National Gang Targeting, Enforcement and Coordination Center, under the direction of Director John Sieder, for their important roles.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa L. Jampol, Lisa Colone, and Robert Frazer of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Organized Crime/Gangs Unit in Newark.

New Jersey Gang Member Sentenced to More Than 30 Years in Prison for Mistaken Identity Murder, Other Gang-Related Crimes

NEWARK, N.J. – Torien Brooks, a leader in the Fruit Town and Brick City Brims set of the Bloods street gang, was sentenced today to 362 months in prison for murdering an innocent teenager in a case of mistaken identity, kidnapping a rival gang member and conspiring to distribute narcotics as part of a racketeering conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Brooks, 31, a/k/a “B.G.,” a/k/a “T-Bird,” a/k/a “Reek Boy” of Paterson, N.J., previously pleaded guilty to one count of a second superseding Indictment filed against him in January 2011, which charged him with conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Brooks entered his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler, who also imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Brooks admitted that he was responsible for a July 19, 2004, murder that occurred in Jersey City. Brooks stated that along with co-defendant Emmanuel Jones, 28, of Jersey City, N.J., a/k/a “Killer,” a/k/a “Killer E,” a/k/a “Emo,” he shot and killed a person they believed was responsible for an earlier shooting of a fellow gang member, but was actually an innocent teenager identified in court documents as “M.T.” Three other bystanders were hit by stray bullets during the incident.

Brooks also admitted that he conspired with fellow gang members Larry Mayo, 30, John Benning, 29, and Haleek State, 27, all of Paterson, to kidnap a rival gang member, identified in court documents as “M.M.” Brooks said the plan arose out of a disagreement he had with M.M. after M.M. changed Bloods sets without receiving permission. On April 11, 2005, the four gang members kidnapped and pistol-whipped M.M., eventually taking him to the Paterson Falls to murder him. As the gang members exited the car, M.M. was able to escape and run down the street, saving his life.

Brooks also admitted that he conspired with other individuals from April 2007 through March 2008 to smuggle heroin into Northern State Prison in Newark, where he was incarcerated and to sell heroin on the streets of Paterson, the proceeds of which were sent back to his prison commissary account.

Brooks was previously indicted by the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office for the July 2004 murder.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Chesler sentenced Brooks to five years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $11,815 in restitution.

Jones, Mayo and Benning have pleaded guilty to related offenses and await sentencing. U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Matthew W. Horace; law enforcement officers from the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Frank X. Schillari; the Paterson Police Department, under the direction of Chief James F. Wittig; and the Jersey City Police Department, under the direction of Director Samuel Jefferson and Chief Thomas J. Comey, with the investigation leading to today's sentence.

He also thanked the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Edward J. De Fazio; the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes; the Special Operations Division’s National Gang Targeting, Enforcement and Coordination Center, under the direction of Director John Sieder; the New Jersey Department of Corrections, under the direction of Commissioner Gary M. Lanigan; and the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Colonel Rick Fuentes, Superintendent, for their important roles.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa Jampol, Lisa Colone, and Robert Frazer of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Organized Crime/Gangs Unit in Newark.

Newark Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Carjacking and Four Armed Pharmacy Robberies

NEWARK—Reginald H. Ware was sentenced today to 180 months in prison for participating in four armed pharmacy robberies in Jersey City and Union City, New Jersey between July and October 2010, and for a Jersey City carjacking in October 2010, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Ware, 42, a/k/a “Ronell Wilson,” a/k/a “Kyiis M. Justice,” a/k/a “Kyyiis Justice,” of Newark, previously pleaded guilty to three counts of the indictment filed against him in March 2011: conspiracy to commit the pharmacy robberies (count one), brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence (count six), and carjacking (count seven). Ware entered his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge William H. Walls, who also imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Ware and separately charged co-conspirator Rahoo Drew, 32, of Newark, robbed four New Jersey pharmacies: the Wisdom Pharmacy in Jersey City on July 27, 2010; the Welcome Pharmacy in Jersey City on August 4, 2010; the Americas Pharmacy in Union City on October 14, 2010; and Carry Drugs in Jersey City on October 16, 2010. In each robbery, the two men walked into the pharmacy with firearms in hand and ordered everyone to lie face-down on the floor. The victims were threatened with death if they did not comply. After securing the victims inside the pharmacies, the two men seized controlled substances and took cash from the pharmacies and individual victims, as well as jewelry.

On October 12, 2010, Ware carjacked a livery cab driver from New York after being taken to Jersey City. Ware and Drew used the carjacked car as the getaway vehicle in the October pharmacy robberies.

Ware and Drew were arrested on November 11 and 9, 2010, respectively, and were held in state custody prior to the case being brought to Newark federal court following the indictment. Drew previously entered a guilty plea to the conspiracy to commit the four armed robberies and awaits sentencing.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Walls sentenced Ware to five years of supervised release and ordered him to pay restitution of $31,595.63.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward in Newark; and the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Edward J. De Fazio; along with the Jersey City Police Department, under the direction of Chief Thomas J. Comey, for the work leading to today’s sentence.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys José R. Almonte and Unit Chief Robert Frazer of the U.S. Attorney’s Office General Crimes Unit in Newark.

Defense counsel: Rubin Sinins Esq., Newark