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Crips Gang Member Charged in Crack Cocaine Ring
A seventh defendant, Tysheim Warren, was arrested today in connection with a nine-count indictment filed in federal court in Brooklyn, also charging Javier Blackett, John Paul Balcazar, David Maldonado, Hassan McClean, Kevin Raphael and Andrew Rose with crimes stemming from their participation in a drug-trafficking organization that distributed more than 400 grams of crack cocaine in the Prospect Lefferts Gardens/Flatbush neighborhoods of Brooklyn.
The indictment was returned by a grand jury on May 10, 2018. Blackett, Maldonado, Raphael and Rose were arrested on May 15, 2018. Balcazar was arrested on May 18, 2018, and McClean was arrested on May 22, 2018. They were arraigned and ordered detained pending trial. Warren was arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Steven M. Gold and ordered detained.
Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and James P. O’Neill, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the charges.
According to the indictment and court filings, the defendants’ drug-selling operations centered around several residential buildings approximately three blocks southeast of the Prospect Park ice skating rink. Since March 2017, members of law enforcement made numerous controlled purchases totaling more than 400 grams of crack cocaine from the defendants’ organization and intercepted, pursuant to court order, communications discussing their distribution of significantly more narcotics.
Blackett, a member of the Eight Trey set of the Crips street gang, was the leader of the organization; Raphael was one of his principal suppliers; and Balcazar, Maldonado, McClean, Rose and Warren were workers.
“The residents of Brooklyn are entitled to streets that are free of the dangerous drugs the defendants were allegedly selling,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue. “This Office, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to work tirelessly to put drug dealers out of business and hold them accountable for their crimes.”
Prosecutors said the defendants could face up to life in prison if convicted of the conspiracy charge. The charges in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program aimed at reducing violent crime and making neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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