CAMDEN, N.J. - Four members of a criminal street gang that used threats, intimidation and violence to maintain control of the illegal drug trade in Atlantic City, New Jersey, were convicted at trial today on drug conspiracy and weapons charges, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
The defendants - Kareem Bailey, 21, Terry Davis, 26, Lamar Macon, 26, and Dominique Venable, 24, all of Atlantic City - were each convicted of conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and brandishing and discharging firearms in furtherance of the conspiracy following a six-week trial before U.S. District Judge Joseph E. Irenas in Camden federal court. The jury deliberated approximately five hours before returning the verdicts.
According to documents filed in this case and the evidence presented at trial:
The four men are members of a gang known as “Dirty Block," a/k/a “Crime Fam," “3.6.6.12," or “3.6," which operated in a geographic area of Atlantic City that includes the public housing apartment complexes of Stanley Holmes Village Public Housing Complex, Renaissance Plaza and Schoolhouse Apartments.
The defendants participated in a violent street-level drug trafficking organization that controlled heroin sales through the possession of dozens of firearms and the use of gun violence, including at least one homicide and several non-fatal, drug-related shootings.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI’s Newark Division, Atlantic City Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford; the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor James P. McClain; the Atlantic City Police Department, under the direction of Chief Henry White; and the South Jersey Safe Streets Violent Incident and Gang (Safe Streets) Task Force, with the investigation leading to today’s convictions.
He also thanked the N.J. State Police; the Atlantic County Sheriff’s Office; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Northfield Police Department; the Vineland Police Department; the Brigantine Police Department; the Millville Police Department; the Mullica Township Police Department; the South Jersey Transportation Authority; and the U.S. Secret Service for their contributions.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Askin and Justin Danilewitz of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Edmund Burgos of the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.
The charges and allegations against the other defendants arrested in this investigation are merely accusations and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Defense Counsel:
Bailey: John Holliday Esq., Hamilton, N.J.
Davis: Gina Capuano Esq., Philadelphia
Macon: William Spade Esq., Philadelphia
Venable: James Murphy Esq., Princeton, N.J.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
