U.S. Attorney Preet Baharra, flanked by local, state, and federal law enforcement officials, announces the arrests made in "Operation Blood Drive."
By Nancy Peckenham
Some 200 federal, state and law enforcement officers rounded up 12 people early Tuesday morning in at least two locations, the city of Newburgh and Port Jervis, and later charged them and another eight defendants already in custody with 32 federal counts of murder, drug trafficking, conspiracy and other crimes related to gang activity in the city of Newburgh. Called “Operation Blood Drive,” the sweep was part of an on-going anti-gang effort spearheaded by the FBI’s Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force whose investigative work has led to charges of gang-related crimes against more than 100 people since May 2009.
At a press conference at Newburgh City Hall, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Baharra described what he called “Blood Alley,” a portion of Lander, Chambers, Johnston and N. Miller Streets where members of the Newburgh Bloods allegedly carried out murder and assaults as part of their effort to control drug trafficking and other criminal activity in the area.
Officials displayed a map of "Blood Alley" and the locations of crimes that led to Tuesday's indictment.
Defendants Charged with Two Murders in 2009
Ten of the defendants are charged with two murders: that of Lamont Young, who was killed in a pool hall near Lander and First Street on March 4, 2009, and that of Tyrik Legette, who was beaten and stabbed to death in broad daylight outside 156 Lander Street on April 30, 2009. The indictment charges that Legette was killed in an act of revenge after he allegedly wronged another Bloods member.
The indictment released by U.S. Attorney office Tuesday described acts of violence, witness tampering, firearms possession and robberies tied to the Bloods’ effort to protect its distribution of crack cocaine. In January, a round of similar indictments targeted 31 alleged members of the Latin Kings gang.
“The Newburgh Bloods and other violent gangs have held the good citizens of Newburgh hostage for too long,” said U.S. Attorney Baharra. “And that is why we once again renew our pledge to this City. The elimination of the Bloods and Latin Kings and other violent gangs will not in and of itself bring about renewal in Newburgh, but the curbing of gang violence and drug activity is an absolute precondition to the sustainable prosperity and sustainable justice that every American city should enjoy.”
Since the task force started working in Newburgh two years ago, its investigation have led to arrests in five murder cases and numerous violent crimes, including attempted murder of rival gang members. Newburgh Mayor Nicholas Valentine noted that in a time when the city’s resources are limited, the collaboration of the FBI, State Police, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, City of Newburgh Police and the Orange County District Attorney “is the only way to get rid of gangs.”
The timing of the early morning raids, coming on the same day as the Democratic primary in the city, was criticized by a city council candidate in the audience at the press conference. Candidate Gay Lee called the heavily-armed squads who made the arrest part of “a Republican plot to suppress the minority voters.” US Attorney Baharra denied any hidden intention, saying he had only realized shortly before the press conference that it was primary day.
Those named in Tuesday’s superseding indictment are:
Anthony Boykin, aka “Double O”
Albert Atkins, aka “Little Bill” and “Bill Blast”
Derrick Atkins, aka “D1”
Marco Boykin, aka “Sparks, “Polo” and “Polo Shine”
Charles Byrd, aka “AU” and “Ante Up”
John Canaday, aka “Stoney B”
Clifton Catts
Charles Corbin, aka “Buck”
Taylor Fields, aka “Little A” and “Alex”
Maurice Hagan, aka “Vision”
Rovert Herring, aka “Rico”
David Jacklyn, aka “Hood”
Joseph McLean, aka “Millz”
Danny McNair, aka Danny Dog
Rahsaan Melvin, aka “Sincere”
John Nelson, aka “Hellboy” and “HB”
Antwan Robinson, aka “Twizzy”
Moleek Sampson, aka “Gams”
Justin Simmons, aka “Justo”
Danielle Williams
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