arrested eight members of two notorious street gangs operating in the New Jersey towns of Englewood, Hackensack and Bergenfield, prosecutors said Friday.
The operation is part of a statewide initiative to disrupt gang activity and remove gang members from streets before they are involved in violent crimes, Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli said at a press conference in Hackensack.
"How do we get them off the streets before they shoot someone?" asked Jose Cordero, statewide director of gangs, guns and violent crime control with the state Attorney General's Office.
The operation led to the arrest of all five members in the Englewood sub-chapter of the nationwide "Grape Street Crips," including its two top local leaders: Shawn Smith, of Kaplan Avenue in Hackensack, and Brandon Randolph, of Grand Avenue in Englewood, authorities said.
Both Smith and Randolph are charged with drug distribution, sale of a handgun and criminal weapons possession.
Also arrested were Julio Joseph, Jeremy Nunnally and Christian Griffin, all of Englewood. All three are charged with distribution and possession of cocaine. Griffin faces additional charges of selling and illegally possessing a handgun.
Molinelli said two members of the Bloods street gang Lee A. Donawa and Quincy Goldman of Bergenfield were arrested as part of the operation. Donawa is charged with illegal sale of a handgun, while Goldman is charged with distribution of marijuana.
Also arrested was Keon Wiggins of Hackensack, a suspected Bloods member, Molinelli said. He is charged with distribution and possession of cocaine.
All eight defendants were arrested at different times since September, after a months-long undercover investigation, Molinelli said.
Authorities have also seized seven handguns and are investigating if any of those guns were used in shootings in Englewood, Molinelli said.
"The message we are trying to convey is that, if you are a gang member, sooner or later, we are going to arrest you," Molinelli said.