United States Drug Enforcement Administration

NEWARK, N.J. – Valerie A. Nickerson, Special Agent-in-Charge of the DEA New Jersey Division, and Craig Carpenito, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, and Gregory W. Ehrie, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI’s Newark Field Office announced 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.
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.

“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 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 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 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 14 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.

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 DEA, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Nickerson, and special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ehrie in Newark, 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.