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

Authorities have arrested and charged 71 alleged members and associates of the Grape Street Crips, alleging that the suspects controlled drug-trafficking and other illegal activities in various neighborhoods and public-housing complexes in Newark.

In addition to drug-trafficking across large swaths of Newark, the Grape Street Crips – who were founded in Los Angeles but also operate in New Jersey - routinely engaged in acts of violence that included murder, shootings, aggravated assaults and witness intimidation, authorities stated in a release.

To protect their gang and drug territory, the Grape Street Crips operating in the area of 6th Avenue and North 5th Street used “community guns” that were easily accessible to gang members, stated authorities.

During the arrests, DEA special agents seized numerous firearms, including a .410 caliber assault rifle, a.45 caliber Thompson semi-automatic carbine, a 7.62 caliber assault rifle and numerous semi-automatic handguns.

Authorities have also charged two of the gang’s alleged leaders - Corey Batts, 30, of Newark, and Kwasi Mack, 26, of Belleville – with “numerous violent crimes in aid of racketeering,” including attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Batts, also known by his alias of “C-Murder,” was also charged with plotting to murder an FBI agent investigating the gang, and is allegedly responsible for helping to control drug-trafficking and other criminal activities near the Oscar Miles public-housing complex located on Court Street.

According to court documents and statements, the rules governing the gang provide that members must retaliate against individuals who cooperate with police, as well as law enforcement officers themselves.

The charges are the result of a long-running investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the FBI, in conjunction with the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Newark Police Department and Essex County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Narcotics.

ALLEGED GANG INTIMIDATION

According to authorities:

• In March 2015, during the lawful wiretap of a cell phone used by Ahmed Singleton, 25, also known as “Gangsta-Mu” and “Mooshie,” the DEA intercepted Singleton detailing his efforts to intimidate a witnesses against him. Singleton was facing trial for aggravated assault in connection with a shooting, but due to his alleged witness intimidation, the state charges against Singleton had to be dismissed.
• In late 2013, a senior member of the New Jersey Grape Street Crips used a social media account to identify an individual as having previously cooperated with a murder investigation conducted by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. Several days after that social media post, several members of the Grape Street Crips repeatedly shot and nearly killed the individual who had been identified as having cooperated.
• In late 2013, following the arrest of numerous gang members, law enforcement officials learned that members of the Grape Street Crips on the street had directed those members of the enterprise who were incarcerated at a county correctional facility to physically harm an individual who was believed to have cooperated with the law enforcement investigation.

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