3 New Haven Gang Members Plead Guilty To Racketeering

NEW HAVEN, CT — Three New Haven gang members pleaded guilty to federal racketeering charges in Hartford federal court.

Investigators were working on 40 unsolved shootings that took place in New Haven and Hamden and learned that three firearms were used in 18 shootings in or around New Haven in 2016, according to the U.S. Attorney District of Connecticut office.

Firearms were possessed by members and associates of the Goodrich Street Boys gang.

A grand jury issued a 13-count indictment that charged Milton Westley, Clifford Brodie, Sedale Pervis, Jejuan Ward, Michael Belle and Michael Via with racketeering, attempted murder, firearm and narcotics trafficking offenses.

Pervis pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

More from the U.S. Attorney office:

In pleading guilty, Pervis admitted that, on September 2, 2016, he possessed a distribution quantity of marijuana, and also possessed a loaded Ruger model P85, 9mm handgun. During the investigation, law enforcement also recovered a .380 caliber firearm that contained Pervis’s DNA.
Pervis admitted that he knew that other GSB members planned to use the 9mm firearm to shoot an individual on May 27, 2016. Ballistics from both the 9mm and .380 firearm were found at the scene of the shooting on that date. The investigation revealed that the 9mm and .380 caliber firearms also were used in other shootings.
On September 26, 2018, CLIFFORD BRODIE, also known as Cliff G,” 21, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity and one count of brandishing of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. In pleading guilty, Brodie admitted that he and other GSB members sold cocaine and heroin. He also admitted that he was present and brandished a firearm at a February 6, 2016, shooting of rival gang members during which a bystander was shot and almost died. He further admitted that, on April 4, 2016, after rival gang members were shot by a fellow GSB member, he drove the assailants home.
On September 27, 2018, MICHAEL BELLE, also known as “MB,” 20, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity. In pleading guilty, BELLE admitted that he was present at the January 23, 2016, shooting at a rival gang member’s house. He also admitted that he and other GSB members agreed to shoot an individual on April 3, 2016, because the individual had information that led to the conviction of a GSB member.
The charge of conspiracy to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. As to Pervis, the charge of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a mandatory consecutive prison term of five years. As to Brodie, the charge of possession of a firearm during an in relation to a crime of violence carries a mandatory consecutive prison term of seven years.
Milton Westley, also known as “Reese,” and Michael Via, also known as “Mike Live,” previously pleaded guilty to related charges and await sentencing.
All of the defendants who have pleaded guilty are detained pending sentencing.

Image via Shutterstock