Ten leaders of the Bronx Gang “280” have been indicted for charges related to violent turf disputes and drugs, officials announced Monday.
It is the last in a series of prosecutions targeting rival gangs in the Morrisania section of the Bronx. Prosecutors allege that “280” and other rival gangs “WTG”, “6 Wild”, and “Dub City” were linked to 34 shootings, with 43 people were harmed.
“Today’s indictments are the culmination of a much larger investigation into four of the city’s most violent street crews, who since 2011 were responsible for murders, shootings, gun trafficking, and narcotic distribution throughout the communities of the Bronx,” Police Commissioner William Bratton said in a statement.
Over the last 18 months, the operation dubbed “Operation Crew Cut” by the NYPD has indicted 50 people and seized 24 guns. Officials say several of their victims were innocent bystanders.
The leader of the “280” gang, Diamond Brown (Debo), oversaw the gang’s narcotics activity, with assistance from his top lieutenants Jesus Perez (Juice Bambino), and Guess Carter (Guess Loc). They are all 21 years old.
The gangs also used social media and coded messages to coordinate criminal activity, recruit new members, incite violence and intimidate witnesses, investigators say.
Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan said in a statement, “Reckless, wanton shootings detailed in the indictment forced innocent bystanders to take cover and neighborhoods to conduct daily business in great fear for their safety and security. Targeting drug gangs involved in violence has significantly diminished shootings in these neighborhoods.”
