2002-09-13 -- Perez Organization -- Arrests -- News Release

Notorious Drug Trafficking Gang Dismantled in Camden; Used Murder, Intimidation to Protect Turf

CAMDEN - The leader and co-conspirators of a notorious drug-trafficking gang were arrested in early morning raids today, taking down the main players in an organization that peddled heroin and crack cocaine and protected its operations by threats and violence, including murder, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

A criminal complaint charging members of the Perez Organization with conspiracy describes the murders of two individuals: the shooting deaths of Kenneth Allen, aka "Smoochie, on May 11, 2001, and "H.R.," a Rutgers University student not identified by name in the complaint, who was killed on Feb. 19, 2001.

Eight defendants were arrested today, including the Perez Organization leader, Enrique Perez. Three others were already in custody in state or county jails on unrelated charges. The defendants are scheduled to make initial appearances later today in U.S. District Court in Camden before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert B. Kugler.

The defendants each are charged in the criminal complaint with conspiracy, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years to life in prison and a fine of $4 million.

"This gang's ruthlessness was unparalleled in Camden," Christie said. "The Perez gang's intimidation tactics and willingness to murder people perceived as a threat to their business demonstrates that. The gang's existence and methods of operation were a blight upon Camden. They have been stamped out, as will others in the future who operate similarly in Camden."

Today's arrests were the second major takedown of a drug trafficking organization in Camden this week. Five others were arrested Thursday (two remain at large) and charged in an Indictment with conspiracy and other charges. That Indictment is available. These operations follow the federal prosecution in January 2000 of Jose Rivera and 13 others who operated an open-air drug market out of what was known as The Alley and the 33rd Street set.

The investigation of the Perez Organization revealed that Enrique Perez was the owner of two drug "sets" operating at 9th and Cedar Streets and 5th and Grant Streets in Camden. Through intensive local policing by the Camden City Police Department, and other law enforcement efforts coordinated through the federal Weed and Seed Program, activities at the 9th and Cedar location were significantly reduced or eliminated in recent months, said Lee Solomon, the Deputy U.S. Attorney for Camden and Trenton. The 5th and Grant Street operation was dismantled today, Solomon said.

Charged in the criminal complaint filed today in U.S. District Court in Camden were:

• Enrique Perez, aka "Rick," 35;

• Bernard Murray, aka "B-Nice," 25;

• Allen Resto, aka "Tito Allen," 22;

• Carlos Hernandez, aka "Los," 28;

• Lorenzo Hardwick, aka, FuQuan," 36;

• Joseph LaCourt, aka "Tuffy," 34;

• Arnalndo Gomez, aka "Nandito," and "Nando, 26;

• Ramon Saldana, aka "Flaco," 39;

• Jose Rodriguez, 20;

• Anthony Perez, aka "Antman," 20;

• Linda Castner, 30.

A separate criminal complaint unsealed today names David Lopez, AGE,, who is also charged in the conspiracy and is identified as the person responsible for the Allen murder. Lopez was arrested in February and is in federal custody. He was ordered detained without bail.

Three of the defendants, Murray, Hardwick and Perez are, according to the criminal complaint, members of the Camden street gang known as the "Sons of Malcolm X" (SOMX). This violent gang's initiation rite required members to kill someone to gain membership. Many SOMX members were prosecuted in the 1990s. Murray has a tattoo with the gang symbol S.O.M.X. Perez's brother, Jose "Slick" Perez, who is currently incarcerated in a New Jersey prison, is also a member of SOMX, according to the complaint.

The investigation used numerous confidential sources to infiltrate the Perez Organization and make incriminating, consensually recorded conversations with the defendants concerning drug-dealing activities and discussions about committing murder.

The criminal complaint describes numerous alleged operational and other details about the set. Among them:

• Some of the defendants at times possessed handguns and assault weapons, including a .357 Magnum that Perez allegedly owned which got "dirty," meaning it had been used in a murder.

• Proceeds from the 5th and Grant Streeet drug set was approximately $35,000 per week. After paying workers, Perez, Murray and Resto allegedly split the remainder to make about $10,000 each.

• A main "bagger" of heroin, who reduced larger amounts of heroin into small, single-use packets for sale, was paid $500 a week for his services.

• Depending on distribution location, $10 bags of heroin were stamped with a brand name or mark, including "Scarface," "El Nino," "Payback," a smiley face or colored bag to distinguish it from other heroin sold elsewhere in Camden.

• Perez on occasion allegedly "rented" the drug sets to others. In one arrangement, Perez collected rent from one individual of between $2,000 and $2,500 a week for approximately four or five months.

The murder of the Rutgers student came amid a territorial dispute between gang members. The student was allegedly threatened by Murray. H.R. was shot by a 1988 white Ford Taurus wagon. Around the Taurus were multiple shell casings of a .45 caliber weapon and an AK47. The complaint does not state that the Rutgers student was involved in the drug trafficking.

A complaint is merely an accusation. All the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Christie and Solomon credited Special Agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Lampinski, in Philadelphia and the FBI Resident Agent in Charge of the South Jersey Resident Agency, Robert Downey; the Camden County Prosecutor's Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Vincent P. Sarubbi; the Camden Police Department, under the direction of Chief Robert Allenbach; the Camden County Sheriff's Department, under the direction of Sheriff Michael W. McLaughlin; the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Superintendent Joseph J. Santiago; the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice, under the direction of Director Peter C. Harvey; the Delaware River Port Authority Police, under the direction of Chief Vincent J. Borelli; the U.S. Marshal's Service, under the direction of U.S. Marshal James T. Plousis; the Drug Enforcement Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge.

-end-