BREAKING: "War" In Montco Stopped; Mass Arrests Of "Straight Cash Money" And "Brothas From Anotha" Gangs, DA Says

A wave of escalating inter-gang violence that was heading towards “war” in Montgomery County has been halted after thirty-four arrests were announced Thursday afternoon, the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office in Norristown announced.

The worst of the violence was centered in Pottstown but spread through Montgomery County and surrounding areas, according to officials.

The arrests are the result of what the DA’s office is calling “Operation War Ready”: over six months of investigations into the rival drug gangs “Straight Cash Money” and “Brothas From Anotha,” both operating out of Pottstown.

“Cream” and “Pizza”

Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman stated that the violence they tracked began on November 25, 2014 during a shooting altercation involving two gang members.

Devon “Cream” Vogelsang, of “Brothas from Anotha”, and Dathan “Pizza” Stevens, a “Straight Cash Money” member, were implicated in the spate of violence, according to the DA.

The incident occurred within Pottstown but the specific location was not released.

What precisely instigated the attack was not stated, other than the fact that the shooters belonged to rival criminal enterprises.

A Night Battle

Just a few days later, at 6:06 p.m. on November 30, Abraham “Flaco” Charriez, a member of the “Straight Cash Money” gang, was shot, investigators reported.

A much larger altercation occurred at 10 p.m. that evening in Pottstown involving four different shooters, according to the DA.

Officials said they recovered a total of 28 bullet casings from the shooting scene.

Christmas Violence

There were no reported incidents throughout early December, as the violence appeared to have cooled off. That all changed on Christmas Eve.

Flaco’s brother, Daniel Garcia, also a member of “Straight Cash Money,” was allegedly shot by a member of ”Brotha From Anotha,” the DA says.

Garcia is a methamphetamine supplier, investigators said.

Two days later, Michael Hill, the father of “Brothas from Anotha” member Markel “Pudge” Harper, was shot at by Alexander “Dot” Scott and Pizza, according to the DA.

Hill was with another man, Jamel Williams, Ferman said, and neither of the men were hit in the shooting.

Hill is apparently not a member of “Brothas from Anotha,” meaning that “Straight Cash Money” may have started targeting the family of known gang members.

“Prepare for the worst, man, and really get war ready, bro”

By this point, investigators said they had begun tapping phones of suspected gang members.

Later on December 26, after the shooting, a conversation between ”Brothas” John Parson and Williams was recorded, the DA said.

Williams said he feared “kill shots” from “Straight Cash Money,” according to investigators.

“It’s either two things man,” investigators say that Parson told Williams. ”You all either gotta bounce, or prepare for the worst, man, and really get war ready, bro.”

”Dot” Scott Takes Shots

After the failed hit on Hill, “Straight Cash Money” targeted “Pudge” Harper himself, the DA says.

Pudge was shot on February 11th, investigators said.

Dot posted on Facebook that day, “I’m bout to go celebrate today is a good day and I don’t make excuses I make it happen who’s next.”

Three days later, Dot posted on Facebook about his Tec-9 firearm, saying “Just copped a tech wit the swiss cheese nozzle.”

Investigators said that Dot next conspired with fellow gang member Jose “Jun” Charriez to take out an unnamed member of “Brothas from Anotha” who they allegedly thought would be a simple target.

“He’s going to be the easiest, bro,” officials said that Dot told Jun over the phone.

“This statement showed investigators the organization’s violent nature, and highlighted the fact that this was not going to be the first shooting the group is responsible for,” Ferman said.

Officials stated that Dot tried twice that day to execute the “Brothas” member, but failed due to interference by law enforcement.

Dot was arrested on March 2, the DA said, in possession of his Tec-9 machine gun, cocaine, and heroin.

Fallout

Investigators said they began serving arrest warrants on March 18.

Along with Dot, Jun and Pizza, arrested individuals from both gangs included Christopher “Gunz” Charriez, Daniel Garcia, Javier “Junior/Gringo” Rodriguez, Devon “Cream” Vogelsang, Markel “Pudge” Harper, Josiah Bailey, and dozens of others, officials said.

Six suspects have already been indicted for charges, which include firearms violations, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, drug dealing, and assault, according to the DA.

Overall, 47 arrest warrants were issued and 34 individuals have been apprehended in relation to the violence, according to the DA.

Thirteen remain on the loose.

Police throughout Montgomery, Berks, and Bucks County have assisted with the case, the DA said.

This is a developing story. Please refresh the page and check back soon for complete details.