Philly 'Omerta' Gang Members Indicted By Federal Authorities

PHILADELPHIA — Federal authorities said several people with connections to a Philadelphia gang they say was involved in racketeering, fraud, and murder in aid of racketeering have been indicted.

United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero said eight members and associates of a local Philadelphia gang known as "Omerta" were federally indicted Tuesday.

The indictment charges the eight with various crimes, including racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit counterfeiting, and mail and wire fraud.

Those charged in the nine-count indictment are:

• Jahlil Williams, also known as "Bill," "25th Street Bill,"Kill Bill," 25;
• Rakiem Savage, also known as "Roc," Fat Roc," "roc30st_," 26;
• Kyair Garnett, also known as "Ky Jefe," Jefe," 23;
• Haneef Roberson, also known as "Haneef Robinson-Tucker," "Neef," "Black Neef," "BlackNeef25st," 23;
• Biheis Moore, also known as "Heis," "Klay," "klay_30st," "heis.30st," age 24;
• Rakiem King, also known as "Cat," "Hellcat," "Hellcat30st," 25;
• Ward Roberts, also known as "Rob," "YoungWard25," 25;
• Harry Draper, also known as "Coach," "Unk," 46.

An omerta is a code of silence about criminal activity and a refusal to give evidence to authorities.

Federal authorities allege these eight were part of a racketeering group that engaged in murder, murder for hire, shootings, firearm possession, counterfeiting, money laundering, illegal gambling, robbery, drug trafficking and mail and wire fraud related to COVID-19 relief payments.

Authorities said the conspiracy spanned from 2018 to 2023. During that time, members engaged in multiple acts of violence and fraud to enrich their enterprise, protect their gang territory and their reputation.

The group is based in the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood of Philadelphia, and is also closely aligned with another, larger Philadelphia gang named "Zoo Gang," authorities said.

Omerta used social media, music, and music videos to enrich its members, promote their identity and image, recruit new members, brag about their own violent acts, and insult rival gangs and gang members, according to authorities.

In September 2021, members of the conspiracy murdered a person identified only as C.J. and shot two other women in a murder-for-hire gone wrong, authorities said.

Then, in November 2021, members of the conspiracy murdered a 14-year-old only identified as S.J. on a street corner in broad daylight because they felt he had either mocked their gang or was related to someone who killed one of their gang members, according to authorities.

Additionally, the indictment mentions at least two other shootings that members of Omerta committed during the course of the conspiracy to protect their territory, as well as plans to commit murder for hire, authorities said.

To fund the group, members committed more than $1.5 million worth of counterfeiting by visiting stores throughout Pennsylvania, as well as up and down the eastern seaboard, to illegally change counterfeit currency for U.S. cash, according to authorities.

Members of the group also filed fraudulent Pandemic Unemployment Assistance applications, receiving a total of over $443,000 to fund their illegal enterprise, authorities said.

If convicted, some defendants face up to 20 years in prison, while others face a maximum possible sentence of life in prison.