Alleged N.J. Crips Gang Leader Charged With Murder, Racketeering

The alleged “long-time leader” of the North Jersey-based Grape Street Crips gang is facing murder and racketeering charges, authorities stated.

Corey Hamlet, also known as “C-Blaze,” “Blizzie” and “Castor Troy,” 39, of Belleville, was charged with four murders, three attempted murders and “numerous other crimes” as part of a racketeering conspiracy, the U.S. Attorney’s Office (NJ) announced on Thursday.

Three other Newark men, 45-year-old Sean L. Scott Sr., also known as “Ali Rock, 33-year-old Keon Bethea, also known as “Fat Boy,” and 32-year-old Jamil Harrison, also known as “L-Mel,” were arrested on Thursday and charged by criminal complaint with distribution of heroin and crack-cocaine.

“Nine months ago we announced the arrests of more than 70 members - including the No. 2 and No. 3 highest ranking members - of the Grape Street Crips, a violent street gang we alleged controls much of the heroin trade in northern New Jersey,” US. Attorney Paul Fishman stated. “Today, we are announcing charges against Corey Hamlet, the leader of that organization, in an indictment that spells out his alleged role in at least four homicides and three attempted homicides in furtherance of his control of this drug trafficking organization.”

• See related article: Gang Bust: 71 Alleged Members of the Grape Street Crips Arrested For Drugs, Murder In New Jersey

Prosecutors alleged that Hamlet has served as the long-time leader of the New Jersey Grape Street Crips, even while serving prison sentences or being detained in federal or state correctional facilities.

As the gang’s reported leader, Hamlet allegedly participated in and authorized acts of violence against rivals, suspected cooperating witnesses and fellow gang members who were perceived as being disloyal, prosecutors charge.

According to prosecutors:

• After completing a previous federal sentence, Hamlet and other gang members allegedly began to extort Victim One. After Victim One refused to pay the extortion demands, Hamlet targeted Victim One and associates of Victim One for violence. In early 2013, Hamlet allegedly authorized Corey Batts, 30, of Newark, and Tony Phillips, of Newark, to murder Victim Two, in part, because Hamlet believed that Victim Two, a member of the New Jersey Grape Street Crips, had grown too close to Victim One. On May 3, 2013, Batts and Phillips, acting on Hamlet’s orders, allegedly shot Victim Two repeatedly in the head and dumped the victim’s body on a Newark street.
• In August 2013, Hamlet allegedly authorized Batts to murder Victim One. In October 2013, Hamlet met with Victim One at the Mall at Short Hills in Millburn, in a meeting that had been set-up by Victim Five, a member of the New Jersey Grape Street Crips who was a close associate of Victim One and who attempted to broker a truce between Hamlet and Victim One. After the Short Hills meeting, Hamlet allegedly used a social media account to post a report from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office purportedly indicating that Victim One had provided a statement to law enforcement. Just three days after Hamlet’s social media post, Batts and other gang members –acting on Hamlet’s orders - allegedly shot and nearly killed Victim One and Victim Four, a bystander who was inside Victim One’ s car.
• Following the attempted murder of Victim One, Hamlet and other gang members allegedly perceived that Victim Five had been disloyal by attempting to put an end to the feud between Hamlet and Victim One. In November 2013, Aaron Terrell, 24, and Rashan Washington, 26, both of Newark, allegedly murdered Victim Five. Acting on Hamlet’s orders, Washington allegedly lured Victim Five into a Jeep Cherokee and then purposely left Victim Five alone, while Terrell allegedly shot Victim Five once in the head.
• In November 2013, Hamlet allegedly told a conspirator that Victim Six, who was a relative of Victim One, had to be murdered. On March 3, 2014, Hamlet and another conspirator pulled up to a car being driven by Victim Six. Although Hamlet allegedly aimed a firearm at Victim Six and the car’s other occupants, Victim Six pulled off before any shots were fired. A short time later, Hamlet’s conspirator found Victim Six, and a car chase ensued. The chase concluded when Victim Six’s car crashed into other vehicles at Irvine Turner Boulevard and Spruce Street in Newark, and Hamlet’s conspirator allegedly fired numerous shots in the direction of Victim Six’s vehicle. Victim Six was shot and Victim Seven, a passenger in Victim Six’s car, was killed. Victim Eight, an innocent bystander who was a passenger in one of the vehicles crashed into at the intersection, was shot in the head and killed.

In addition to allegedly orchestrating the above acts of violence, Hamlet reportedly conspired with other gang members to distribute 280 grams or more of crack-cocaine, conspired to distribute heroin, was involved in the extortion and robbery of other individuals and threatened individuals whom he believed to be cooperating with law enforcement, according to prosecutors.

Photo: Essex County Correctional Facility Inmate Lookup