"Kings" of Castle Hill are now in prison, indicted and arrested earlier this week on charges ranging from narcotics trafficking to murder.Their operation allegedly used children to sell and deliver drugs, authorities said.Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson announced the bust of 19 reputed members of the self-proclaimed King of Castle Organization after a 16-month investigation into the gang, which operated out of Castle Hill Houses.
Some defendants also belong to Sex, Money, Murder, a gang affiliated with the Bloods.
The arrests follow a number of similar busts, both local and federal, of drug gangs operating out of city housing projects around the borough.
In the latest drug gang bust, a grand jury returned a 100-count indictment charging all but two of the defendants with multiple counts of conspiracy to sell narcotics and commit murder, attempted murder, robberies and other acts of violence in connection with a million-dollar-a-year heroin and crack-cocaine ring operating out of Castle Hill Houses.The 17 defendants charged with conspiracy face a maximum of life in prison for conspiring to use the children - all under age 16 - to sell and deliver narcotics. Because of their age, they were safe - if arrested - from prosecution as adults.Two defendants were not implicated in the conspiracy but charged with possession and sale of narcotics.Most suspects were taken into custody without incident and more arrests are expected, said Johnson's office.
"During the course of the investigation we seized 11 semi-automatic handguns and revolvers, over a kilo of cocaine in both crack and powder form, 130 bags of heroin, marijuana and more than $63,000 in cash," said Johnson.
Khalil [Dolla] Harris, 26, is alleged to be the head of the King of Castle Organization, said Johnson's office.His younger brother, Hassan [Hocus] Harris, 25, was charged in connection with a shooting incident on Aug. 29, 2007, that left four people wounded, including three bystanders, at Park Ave. and 182nd St.
Khalieh [2-5] McMorris, 20, was charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Russell Allen on Feb. 23, and second-degree attempted murder in shootings that wounded Erin Hall and Scott Torres on Feb. 1, 2006.
The alleged ringleader's two younger brothers, Hassan Harris and Shariff Harris - both indicted - are rap singers who were recently featured in the Aug. 26 issue of Billboard magazine.

Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson Wednesday announced the arrests and indictment of 19 reputed members of the King of Castle Organization on charges ranging from conspiracy to sell narcotics to murder and other offenses. Some of the defendants also belong to “Sex, Money, Murder”, a group affiliated with the “Bloods.” Two of the accused are rap singers who were recently featured in the August 26th issue of Billboard Magazine.The grand jury returned a 100 count indictment charging all but two of the defendants with multiple counts of conspiracy to sell narcotics, commit murder, attempted murder, robberies and other acts of violence in connection with a $1 one million a year heroin and crack cocaine ring which operated primarily in and around the Castle Hill Housing Development. The two defendants who were not implicated in the ongoing conspiracy were charged with the possession and sale of narcotics on one occasion on August 28, 2008. Late Tuesday afternoon, authorities began executing arrest warrants for defendants named in the indictment. Most were taken into custody without incident and additional arrests are expected. Eighteen of the 19 defendants were arraigned on Wednesday before Acting State Supreme Court Justice Steven Barrett in Part M-60 and ordered held without bail.