Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!enterpoop.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.metro From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Raid in Northwest smashes drug-dealing gang, police say Date: Thu, 26 Nov 92 15:00:28 EST Message-ID: Lines: 71 \SE B;METROPOLITAN \HD Raid in Northwest smashes drug-dealing gang, police say \BY Margaret Rankin \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES A daylight raid yesterday that netted guns, drugs and nine suspects disabled a drug-pushing street gang that terrorized residents of a Northwest neighborhood, law enforcement officials said. The gang, which calls itself the "One-Four Crew," ran a crack cocaine ring in the area around 14th and Shepherd streets NW, where they sold drugs from a street corner in broad daylight, police said. Three of the men arrested yesterday were identified as gang members. Police said Robert "Big Rob" Johnson, 38, was the leader and has a record of arrests, including murder charges in New York. James "Petey" Beale III, 19, and Neal "Jamaican Neil" Douglas, 19, were identified as key members of the drug operation. All three will face federal drug-distribution charges that carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, Deputy U.S. Marshal George Walsh said. "This will ease a lot of the narcotics traffic in the area," said Avis Packard, the Metropolitan Police Department's lead investigator in the case. "All three are midlevel cocaine distributors and supply . . . at least 15 other people under them in the area with narcotics." But police said four gang members are at large. The task force that pulled off yesterday's raid could not find Sylvester "Sleepy" Watson, 21, Andre Harrington, 22, Nathan "Nate" McNatt, 20, or Jeffrey Demery, 24. Police began their investigation after neighborhood residents repeatedly complained about drug trafficking in the area. The residents said gang members fought with them, shot out their windows and vandalized cars so that exhaust fumes poured into the passenger compartments. The raid was carried out by the Safe Streets task force, made up of the Marshals Service, Metropolitan Police, Immigration and Naturalization Service, and FBI. About 60 members of the task force met in the early morning rain at Carter Barron Amphitheater and set up observation posts in the gang territory. Shortly after noon, they swooped into the neighborhood and executed search warrants at seven locations. They seized $871, a semiautomatic gun and two 9mm handguns, one of which was stamped with the Fraternal Order of Police insignia. Officials said they confiscated 35 $50 bags of crack, 11 bags of marijuana and a small amount of heroin. Fourth District commander Melvin Clark said police patrols will be increased in the area to prevent new gangs from forming. "This has removed the nucleus of drug operations here, so now hopefully citizens can get back to living as they're supposed to: safely in their homes," he said. The other six persons arrested were not identified as gang members. Authorities said two of them, Jennifer Odette Fields and Richard Paul King, are illegal immigrants from Trinidad and were turned over to the INS. Russell Hughes, 61, Debra Gamble, 33, and Dennis Ross, 16, were charged with possession with intent to distribute drugs, and Erik Roberson, 17, was arrested on an outstanding bench warrant for a traffic offense. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM