Anthony
Super Moderator
Police on Staten Island arrested 39 people in a violent drug-and-gun ring, with 25 of them having ties to the violent Bloods gang. After a 16-month probe authorities picked up the suspects and charged them with attempted murder, selling cocaine and stealing motorcycles.
Six of the ring members also hired two hit men to kill another defendant but failed three times, according to the indictment.
Authorities dubbed the “Operation Mayberry†because one of the ringleaders went by the name “Opie,†however Staten Island DA Daniel Donovan said the dangerous crew was “nothing like†Andy Griffith’s loveable 1960s TV gang.
“They are accused of committing crimes, conspiring to commit crimes that would shock and appall Sheriff Taylor,†Donovan said.
“These defendants wreaked havoc on Staten Island.â€
Police seized six guns, ammo, crack, marijuana and 22 kilos of coke in the investigation. Most of the coke was confiscated in Laredo, Texas, after it left Mexico bound for Staten Island, prosecutors said.
Donovan told reporters that the guns came from Georgia.
"Some of these guns were about to be used to shoot other individuals,†he said, adding that three of the firearms were recovered during a car chase through Newark, NJ, two were found on a woman who was selling weapons for alleged drug dealer Shatiek “Sha-gotti†Daniels, and another was found in front of Daniels’ home.
Daniels, along with Kenneth “Shugs†Williams and four others, were indicted for running the guns from Georgia in a bid to kill Lawrence “L†Browning. The six hired two hit men, who failed all three different times, prosecutors said.
Daniels and Williams wanted Browning killed because of an outstanding debt and because Browning had made advances on the girlfriend of another defendant, Jerry “Poe†Leverette, according to a source.
Browning was also indicted for attempted murder, because he slammed into Leverette with his car during one of the failed attempts on his own life, sources said.
Christopher “Opie†Dowd, who was charged with conspiring to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to steal and resell motorcycles and motorcycle parts and for heading a burglary ring that targeted Staten Island homes.
Neighbors that live near one of the suspects is happy to see them get picked up and arrested.
“Hopefully they can go away for a long time so we can ge our neighborhood backâ€, said a neighbor.
Six of the ring members also hired two hit men to kill another defendant but failed three times, according to the indictment.
Authorities dubbed the “Operation Mayberry†because one of the ringleaders went by the name “Opie,†however Staten Island DA Daniel Donovan said the dangerous crew was “nothing like†Andy Griffith’s loveable 1960s TV gang.
“They are accused of committing crimes, conspiring to commit crimes that would shock and appall Sheriff Taylor,†Donovan said.
“These defendants wreaked havoc on Staten Island.â€
Police seized six guns, ammo, crack, marijuana and 22 kilos of coke in the investigation. Most of the coke was confiscated in Laredo, Texas, after it left Mexico bound for Staten Island, prosecutors said.
Donovan told reporters that the guns came from Georgia.
"Some of these guns were about to be used to shoot other individuals,†he said, adding that three of the firearms were recovered during a car chase through Newark, NJ, two were found on a woman who was selling weapons for alleged drug dealer Shatiek “Sha-gotti†Daniels, and another was found in front of Daniels’ home.
Daniels, along with Kenneth “Shugs†Williams and four others, were indicted for running the guns from Georgia in a bid to kill Lawrence “L†Browning. The six hired two hit men, who failed all three different times, prosecutors said.
Daniels and Williams wanted Browning killed because of an outstanding debt and because Browning had made advances on the girlfriend of another defendant, Jerry “Poe†Leverette, according to a source.
Browning was also indicted for attempted murder, because he slammed into Leverette with his car during one of the failed attempts on his own life, sources said.
Christopher “Opie†Dowd, who was charged with conspiring to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to steal and resell motorcycles and motorcycle parts and for heading a burglary ring that targeted Staten Island homes.
Neighbors that live near one of the suspects is happy to see them get picked up and arrested.
“Hopefully they can go away for a long time so we can ge our neighborhood backâ€, said a neighbor.