8 'Goonies' Indicted In Federal Court

MOUNT VERNON, NY — Eight members of the 'Goonies' street gang were arraigned Thursday in federal court in White Plains. An indictment was unsealed charging them with crimes relating to racketeering, narcotics, and firearms offenses. The operations stretched over 10 years, from 2007-17, prosecutors said.

The announcement was made by Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Anthony A. Scarpino Jr., Westchester County District Attorney, and William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The men charged: MARKEL OVERTON, a/k/a “Kellz,” THOMAS BLANTON, a/k/a “LT,” MARQUIS COLLIER, a/k/a “Keise,” KADEEM DINHAM, a/k/a “Polo,” DONNIE DIXON, a/k/a “Scooter,” RAHEEM JONES, a/k/a “Rah Trigger,” a/k/a “Trigga,” JAMAAL SINCLAIR, a/k/a “Diggz,” and NOEL SMITH, a/k/a “Georgie.”

Prosecutors alleged they are members in the “Goonies” street gang that operated in the City of Mount Vernon, New York.

Overton was arrested on these charges Wednesday, prosecutors said. Collier and Dixon were arrested on these charges today. Dinham, who was already in custody on state charges, was transferred to federal custody today; Blanton, Sinclair, and Smith, who were also already in custody on state charges, will be transferred to federal custody as soon as possible; and Jones was already in federal custody on related charges. The defendants will be arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Lisa M. Smith this afternoon in White Plains federal court.

“This gang was allegedly engaged in serious criminal activity that included shooting incidents, armed robberies, gun possession and narcotics distribution," Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino Jr. said in the announcement. "We are pleased that this is now coming to an end. I want to thank our partners at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District and the New York office of the FBI for their unstinting dedication and determination that led to this indictment and today’s arrests.”

According to the Indictment: From 2007 to 2017, members and associates of the Goonies committed, conspired, attempted, and threatened to commit acts of violence, including attempted murder and robbery; they conspired to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute narcotics; and they obtained, possessed, and used firearms, including by brandishing and firing them.

The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided in the attached table for informational purposes only, as any sentencings of the defendants will be determined by a judge.

Kim thanked the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office and praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI’s Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force, which comprises agents and detectives from the Yonkers Police Department, Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, Westchester County Police Department, Peekskill Police Department, Mount Vernon Police Department, New York City Police Department, and U.S. Probation.

The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Anden F. Chow, Christopher J. Clore, Sarah Krissoff, Olga Zverovich, and Special Assistant United States Attorneys John O’Rourke and Lauren Abinanti are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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