Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III sentenced Gregory Sykes-Bey, age 22, of Baltimore, today to 24 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise in connection with his gang activities as a member of the UDH organization, which operates in the Cherry Hill section of Baltimore.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Daniel L. Board, Jr. of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; Commissioner Kevin Davis of the Baltimore Police Department; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby.

According to his plea agreement, Gregory Sykes-Bey participated in the activities of the UDH organization, which operates in the area of Cherry Hill known as “Up the Hill” or “Up da Hill.” UDH members and associates have been in a long-running dispute with members of an organization known as “Coppin Court” that is involved in criminal activity in the part of Cherry Hill known as “Down the Hill,” and since at least January 2011, have been in a dispute with members of “Little Spelman,” another organization that is involved in criminal activity in the Down the Hill section of Cherry Hill. UDH members and associates used violence and intimidation to protect themselves, the organization, and their control of the drug trade in part of Cherry Hill.

Gregory Sykes-Bey knew that members of UDH sold crack cocaine, heroin and other narcotics. During his involvement in the conspiracy, Sykes-Bey knew that UDH was responsible for the distribution of at least one kilogram of heroin, five kilograms of cocaine, 280 grams for crack cocaine and marijuana. In addition to his participation in the gang’s narcotics trafficking activities, Gregory Sykes-Bey admitted shooting two people on June 1, 2008 and shooting a rival gang member on May 11, 2012. Witnesses also identified Gregory Sykes-Bey as shooting and killing a rival gang member on August 28, 2011.

A total of 35 Cherry Hill gang members have pleaded guilty and 23 of those defendants, including Sykes-Bey have been sentenced to up to 35 years in prison.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the ATF, Baltimore Police Department, and Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Andrea L. Smith, Seema Mittal, and Patricia C. McLane, who are prosecuting this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.

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