RICO indictment alleges the street gang operates as a
criminal enterprise engaged in violent crimes such as attempted murders, felony
assaults and federal firearms offenses
PROVIDENCE, RI – Six men who are alleged to be associated
with a criminal enterprise generally known as Chad, Chad Brown, Chad Brown
Posse, Chad Brown Cut Throats, Cut Throat Committee, Chad Brown Killers, CBK,
The Bricks, and Hova Gang, among others (collectively, “the Chad Brown Gang”)
have been charged by way of a federal indictment with violating the Racketeer
Influenced Criminal Organization Act (RICO) by allegedly engaging in attempted
murders, felony assaults, federal firearms offenses, drug trafficking and
obstruction of justice.
It is alleged in the indictment that the six individuals are
members of a criminal enterprise that engaged in violent crimes in aid of
racketeering. Among the alleged crimes detailed in the indictment are four
drive-by shootings in Providence. The violent criminal acts were allegedly
carried out by members of the criminal enterprise with the use of firearms, in
violation of federal law.
Four of the individuals named in the indictment are alleged
to have participated in drive-by shootings that, according to the indictment
and information presented to the Court, were in retaliation for felony
assaults, shootings, and murders of Chad Brown gang members or associates, or
members of other street gangs allied with the Chad Brown street gang. In at
least one instance, in an apparent case of mistaken identity, multiple shots
were fired into a car driven by a person who was not the intended target.
Utilizing technology provided by the National Integrated
Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms
and Explosives linked six shootings in Providence to the same firearm,
allegedly owned by one of the defendants, and shared among gang members. Three
of the shootings charged in the indictment involved that handgun.
The indictment, the result of a two-year Project Safe
Neighborhoods Investigation by the Providence Police Department; Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); ATF Task Force; United States
Attorney’s Office; and the Rhode Island Department of Attorney General is
announced by United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch, Attorney General Peter
F. Kilmartin, ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge Lawrence J. Panetta, and
Providence Public Safety Commissioner Steven M. Paré.
“Reducing violent crime has been and remains a top priority
for the Department of Justice. Project
Safe Neighborhoods allows federal, state and local law enforcement to
collaboratively focus their resources to combat this problem. Together, we have used and will continue to
use all of the investigative and legal tools available to us to target and hold
responsible individuals responsible for driving and committing violent crime
within our local communities,” commented United States Attorney Stephen G.
Dambruch.
“The gun and gang violence perpetrated by this criminal
enterprise is fueled by long-simmering feuds that has wreaked chaos and fear
throughout every corner of our capital city.
The actions of these defendants individually and collectively are
extremely violent, show an utter disregard for human life, and cannot be
allowed to flourish or further infect this community,” said Rhode Island
Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin.
“Addressing these criminal enterprises requires great cooperation
between law enforcement agencies at every level. Working hand in glove with Providence Police
and our state and federal partners, we have identified those responsible for
the criminal enterprise, and we will use every available legal avenue to shut
down and put an end to the organized and senseless violence being wreaked by
these gangs.”
“These charges
against six gang members centered in the Chad Brown neighborhood of Providence
are another example of law enforcement’s collective strategy to target, disrupt
and eliminate violent and dangerous criminal enterprises, and to cut off their
means of funding from the illegal sale of drugs and guns,” said Providence
Public Safety Commissioner Steven M. Paré. “Bringing federal, state and local
resources to bear on this criminal enterprise is the best approach in
dismantling an organization that uses violence as a means of operation. Using ATF technology and expertise to connect
guns to shell casings which led to connecting gang members to shootings was
instrumental, combined with using the police officers, detectives, agents and
prosecutors to build a case that resulted in these indictments. Providence and the region will be a safer
place with these individuals off the street.”
“Investigating, arresting, and incarcerating criminals who
use guns and violence to intimidate communities and commit violent crime is
ATF’s number one priority in Rhode Island.
ATF is proud to collaborate with our law enforcement partners and bring
the most advanced forensic science to the fight against gun crime,” said
Lawrence Panetta, Acting Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston. “The National Integrated Ballistic
Information Network is the only national network that allows for the capture
and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent
crimes involving firearms. ATF works to
reduce violent crime by targeting and dismantling these types of criminal
organizations who pose the greatest threat to public safety.”
The 29-count indictment unsealed today charges:
Delacey Andrade.
24, of North Providence, with Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization;
four counts of Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering; two counts of Felon in
Possession of a Firearm; three counts of Use of a Firearm in a Federal Crime of
Violence; and Distribution of Cocaine;
Keishon Johnson,
28, of Providence, with Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization; three counts of Violent Crimes in Aid of
Racketeering; three counts of Felon in Possession of a Firearm; three counts of
Use of a Firearm in a Federal Crime of Violence; Possession of a Firearm in
Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; Possession with Intent to Distribute
Marijuana; and Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana;
Montrel Johnson,
22, of Providence, with Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization; two
counts of Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering; Use of a Firearm in a Federal
Crime of Violence; four counts of Obstruction of Justice; and Criminal Contempt
of Court;
Marcel Jones, 30,
of West Warwick, with Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering; Felon in
Possession of a Firearm; and Use of a Firearm in a Federal Crime of Violence;
Kendrick Johnson,
27, of North Providence, with Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization;
Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering; Felon in Possession of a Firearm; Use of
a Firearm in a Federal Crime of Violence; and six counts of Distribution of
Cocaine; and
Christopher
Britto, 25, of Warwick, with Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering and Use of a
Firearm in a Federal Crime of Violence
An indictment is merely an allegation and is not evidence of
guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the
government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Project Safe Neighborhoods is a federal, state and local law
enforcement collaboration to identify, investigate and prosecute individuals
responsible for violent crimes in our neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods
has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law
enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for
everyone.
The case is being prosecuted in U.S. District Court by
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gerard B. Sullivan and Sandra R. Hebert, and Assistant
Attorney General James Baum of the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office.
United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch, and ATF Acting
Special Agent in Charge Lawrence J. Panetta acknowledge and thank the member
agencies of the ATF Task Force, the Providence and Pawtucket Police
Departments; Rhode Island State Police; and the Rhode Island Department of
Corrections, as well as the North Providence Police Department and the United
States Marshals Service for their efforts in the investigation.
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