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Two Grape Street Crips Crack-Cocaine Wholesalers Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison
NEWARK, N.J. – In a major blow to the Grape Street Crips, two of its members have been sentenced to 18 years in prison for their roles in a racketeering and drug trafficking conspiracy operating in Newark.
Hakeem Vanderhall, 33, a/k/a ‘Keem,’ a/k/a ‘Sugar Bear,’ and Eric Concepcion, 30, a/k/a ‘Eddie Arroyo,’ a/k/a ‘E-Wax,’ a/k/a ‘Wax,’ pleaded guilty to charges of racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute crack-cocaine. U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo imposed the sentences in Newark federal court.
According to court documents, Vanderhall and Concepcion were part of the Grape Street Crips’ New Jersey set, which controlled drug trafficking and other criminal activities in various areas of Newark. The gang used a dedicated cell phone to distribute thousands of clips of crack-cocaine to other distributors, including other gang members.
As part of their operation, the Grape Street Crips also used ‘community guns’ that were easily accessible to gang members. Law enforcement agents seized numerous firearms, including a .410 caliber assault rifle, a .45 caliber Thompson semi-automatic carbine, a 7.62 caliber assault rifle, and numerous semi-automatic handguns.
Concepcion and Vanderhall were also sentenced to five years of supervised release. The investigation was conducted by the DEA and FBI, with assistance from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and the Newark Department of Public Safety.
The case was led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Osmar J. Benvenuto and Barry A. Kamar of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark.
Defense counsel for Vanderhall was Joshua L. Markowitz Esq. of Lawrenceville, New Jersey, while Concepcion was represented by Stephen Turano Esq. of Newark.
The Grape Street Crips are a notorious gang with a history of violence and crime. Their activities have been the subject of numerous investigations and prosecutions in recent years.
RELATED: Crips Member ‘Bop’ Gets 9 Years for Newark Crack Deal
RELATED: Grape Street Crips Wholesaler ‘Bad News’ Pleads Guilty
Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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