Alleged Gang Members Arrested On Guns, Drugs, Assault Charges
To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.
Then come back here and refresh the page.
Although they had dreams of being big-time rappers, prosecutors say some alleged Bronx gang members were also big-time criminals. NY1's Dean Meminger filed the following report.Members of the Dub City gang made a rap video about the rough life on the streets of the Bronx. But the city's special narcotics prosecutor said the gang members who made the video didn't only rap about violence: They were violent.
"It appears they would focus on young girls to carry the weapons," said Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan. "And a real love affair with the guns."
On Thursday, several of the alleged members of Dub City were indicted and appeared in court, facing charges that included the sale and purchase of guns and drugs, assault and a conspiracy to get more weapons.
In a 16-month investigation of Dub City activity in the areas around Walton and Jerome Avenues near 177th Street, 20 people were arrested and 10 guns confiscated.
Prosecutors said there are thousands of messages on social media and cell phones from the gang about violence.
"They were very bold on Facebook and in their texts," Brennan said.
The indictment said Dub City was in a turf war with rival gangs "280" and "WTG." And there have been 14 retaliatory shootings since April 2011, when a Dub City member was killed.
Prosecutors told the judge that when NYPD detectives tried to investigate the gang's activities, they ran into a lot of problems getting victims and witnesses to cooperate.
"Witnesses are very fearful of testifying against their neighbors, people they live right next door to, who they know have guns," Brennan said. "One tool we found to get get around that problem is to proceed with this kind of case, a conspiracy case where we have a lot of evidence of the shootings."
"I pressed the people whether or not they could provide any further evidence of my clients' involvement in that assault or this conspiracy," said Defense Attorney Brian Kennedy. "But they couldn't do so today. So we will see what happens with the case."
Prosecutors said there could be more charges coming soon.