Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Baltimore, Maryland - A federal grand jury has indicted 21 individuals in two separate indictments on racketeering conspiracy and drug charges related to their alleged drug dealing and violence in the Cherry Hill section of Baltimore.  In a third indictment, an additional five defendants are charged in a drug conspiracy in the same area.  The indictments were returned on December 4, and December 11, 2013, and unsealed today upon the arrest of 11 defendants.  Nine of the defendants were already detained on state charges.

The indictments were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Steven L. Gerido of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; Commissioner Anthony W. Batts of the Baltimore Police Department; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Gregg L. Bernstein.    

“The defendants allegedly belong to rival drug gangs that have terrorized Cherry Hill, resulting in five murders as well as numerous shootings and robberies,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein.  “For other criminals in Cherry Hill who were not arrested today, these indictments send a clear message to stop the violence or be prepared to spend the rest of your life in a federal prison far from home.”

Fifteen individuals are charged in a racketeering conspiracy as well as in a conspiracy to distribute heroin, powder and crack cocaine, and oxycodone as members of the “UDH” organization, which operates in the area of Cherry Hill known as “Up the Hill” or “Up da Hill.” On July 21, 2013, one of the alleged members of UDH, Gregory Sykes-Bey, posted the following message to Facebook: “They say ur nobody until somebody kills u but where im from ur nobody until u kill somebody.”

In the second indictment, six individuals are charged in a separate racketeering conspiracy as members of the Little Spelman organization, which operates in the “Down the Hill,” section of Cherry Hill, as well as a conspiracy to distribute heroin, powder and crack cocaine and marijuana.

According to the indictments, the members of UDH and Little Spelman were part of a racketeering enterprise and protected their power, territory and profits through the use of violence, threats of violence, intimidation, robbery, narcotics trafficking and obstruction of justice. Specifically, the indictments allege that beginning in 2011, UDH and Little Spelman were involved in a dispute that resulted in three murders and the shootings of two others.  In addition, the indictments allege that members of UDH committed two bank robberies.

Five other defendants are charged with conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and heroin, and the UDH indictment alleges that UDH was in a long-running dispute with an organization known as Coppin Court that is involved in criminal activity in the ‘Down the Hill’ section of Cherry Hill.

All 26 defendants face a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The defendants arrested today are expected to have an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Baltimore. Initial appearances for those defendants detained on state charges have not yet been scheduled.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.

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 and thanked the FBI, Baltimore County Police Department, Anne Arundel County Police Department, and Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office for their assistance. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Joshua Kaul and Brooke Carey, who are prosecuting the case.

See Attachment A for list of defendants.

ATTACHMENT A

Cherry Hill Defendants

UDH Indictment:

• Steven Jackson, a/k/a Cutty, age 23, of Baltimore;
• Eugene Anderson, a/k/a Petey, age 36, of Baltimore;
• Asim Benns, a/k/a Seem, age 30, of Baltimore;
• Ronald Hall, a/k/a JJ, age 37, of Baltimore;
• Delano Johnson, a/k/a Lano, age 36, of Baltimore;
• Tony Johnson, a/k/a Tony Mack, age 29, of Baltimore;
• Rashaud Kearney, a/k/a TT, age 20, of Baltimore;
• Russell Lumpkins, a/k/a Mr. Man, age 26, of Baltimore;
• Demond Pinkney, a/k/a Cal, age 28, of Baltimore;
• Clarence Shipley, a/k/a Mook, age 26, of Baltimore;
• Gregory Sykes-Bey, age 20, of Baltimore;
• Bryan Turner, a/k/a BT, age 28, of Baltimore; and
• Antione White, a/k/a Twan, age 25, of Baltimore.

Little Spelman Indictment:

• Davon Martin, a/k/a Ack and Black, age 25, of Baltimore;
• Brian Parker, a/k/a ES, age 35, of Baltimore;
• Shaquan Robinson, a/k/a Quanny, age 22, of Baltimore; and
• Richard Williams, a/k/a Wis, age 22, of Baltimore.

Third Indictment:

• Danna Fraser, a/k/a Stroke, age 25, of Baltimore;
• Ernest Thomas, a/k/a EJ, age 25, of Baltimore; and
• Melvin Truesdale, a/k/a MJ, age 20, of Baltimore.

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