10-22-2003 -- Thomas, Marshaun -- Sentencing -- News Release

Jersey City Man Sentenced to 30 years in Prison, Marking the End of the Notorious Gang Known as "Van Nostrand Soldiers Out Politicking"

NEWARK - A Jersey City man was sentenced to 30 years in prison today for murder and bank robbery as part of an organized criminal enterprise involving a Jersey City gang named Van Nostrand Soldiers Out Politicking, or VSOP, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

The sentencing of Marshaun Thomas, 25, ends a more than two-year investigation into the criminal activities of VSOP, whose members originally created the gang to raise money for a Jersey City rap group named The Wrong, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc A. Agnifilo.

Thomas, the "enforcer" for VSOP, pleaded guilty on Sept. 26, 2002, pleaded guilty to a one-count Information charging racketeering, including the murder of Alex Irizarry, 22, of Jersey City and bank robbery. Thomas admitted that, after its creation, VSOP quickly turned into a criminal enterprise that made money through robbery and other crimes. Seven other VSOP members already have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from five to 10 years for guilty pleas to violent crimes and firearms offenses.

"This was a roving gang of thugs," said Christie. "They stopped short of nothing - murder, armed robberies, armed muggings, carjacking, drug trafficking. They were a crime wave in and of themselves."

Judge Hayden at today's sentencing hearing that, in her sentencings of all the co-defendants, she was "struck by the reckless, lawless, almost delusional life being led by these people."

Curiously enough, VSOP usually stands for Very Superior Old Pale - a designation for fine French cognac. As described below, the case came together through fortuitous, at times harrowing, detective work by federal and local agencies.

At his plea hearing, Thomas admitted that on Aug. 12, 1998, he shot and killed Alex Irizarry, while Thomas tried to rob him. (Alex Irizarry had no relation to Elvis Irizarry of Jersey City, who was convicted in 2001 in federal court in connection with several organized crime murders.) Thomas admitted that he and three other VSOP members were in a car on that day and decided to rob a group of individuals on a Jersey City street corner. Thomas admitted that he approached the group, and when the victim turned in his direction, he shot him.

Thomas also admitted that on Oct. 30, 2000, he and another person robbed the PNC Bank in the Journal Square section of Jersey City at gun point. After the robbery, in which Thomas was armed with a handgun, the robbery proceeds were split between Thomas, the other robber and two VSOP members who drove the getaway car from the bank. Thomas admitted that he committed these and other crimes as part of his membership in the VSOP criminal organization.

As related to the Court by Assistant U.S. Attorney Agnifilo at the July 2003 sentencing of William Smith, a key VSOP member-turned-informant, the FBI - having developed information that co-defendant and VSOP member Smith had robbed the PNC Bank in Journal Square - went to Smith's home to interview him. Smith had just returned home after committing a $38,000 armed robbery of a check cashing establishment in Jersey City called "Check Cashed, Etc." When the agents asked Smith about "the robbery," Smith, thinking they were asking about the job he had just done, confessed to the check-cashing robbery. The agents then questioned Smith about what they had originally wished to ask him, specifically the PNC bank robbery from Oct. 30, 2000, and Smith confessed to that as well. It was then that federal authorities learned for the first time about the small, but prolific armed robbery crew called "Van Nostrand Soldiers Out Politicking," or VSOP. Smith agreed to cooperate against the members of his group.

For several months, he wore a tape recorder and recorded conversations of his VSOP associates as they plotted different armed robberies. In fact, on several occasions when Smith and others were driving to commit specific robberies, Smith found a way to get out of the car and place a phone call to the FBI agents to tell them about the robbery that was just about to occur. In those instances, the FBI quickly contacted the Jersey City Police, which stationed a patrol car in front of the targeted location. While law enforcement was able to stop these armed robberies from taking place, they were at the same time amassing taped conversations of the robbery accomplices. Those tapes and other evidence led to the arrests of all members of the VSOP enterprise, including two who were in the car with Thomas the night of the Irizarry murder.

In April, 2001, VSOP members Rajon Stridiron, George Sanchez and Reggie Garbutt pleaded guilty to robbery and use of a firearm in connection with the armed robbery of Checks Cashed Etc. establishment in Jersey City. In March 2001 VSOP associate Jermaine Speaks pleaded guilty to bank robbery in connection with the PNC Bank robbery. In May 2001, VSOP member Smith pleaded guilty to bank robbery and use of a firearm in connection with the PNC Bank robbery. In November 2001, VSOP member Stanley Powell pleaded guilty to bank robbery and use of a firearm in connection with PNC Bank robbery. In April 2002, VSOP associate Jamal Trice pleaded guilty to possession of a weapon as a convicted felon.

Christie credited Special Agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Louie F. Allen. Christie also gave special thanks to the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office, the Jersey City Police Department and the Hudson County Sheriff's Department for their assistance in the investigation.

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Defense Attorney: Timothy Donohue, Esq. West Orange