Feds say ‘Cameron Street’ gang in Mass. posted videos celebrating killings; 19 members indicted

Posting movies and utilizing social media to rejoice killings and different crimes the “Cameron Avenue” gang is accused of committing are among the many actions federal legislation enforcement say the group engaged in, in line with a sweeping indictment of greater than a dozen of its members.

Nineteen members and associates of the Boston-based Cameron Avenue gang had been charged in a 39-count indictment with varied crimes, together with racketeering conspiracy, gun and drug trafficking and unlawful possession of firearms, the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace stated in a press release Friday.

Twenty-one weapons and lots of of rounds of ammunition had been allegedly seized from 11 of the defendants. Prosecutors say greater than a kilogram of cocaine was additionally seized from gang members through the investigation.

In response to the indictment, the Cameron Avenue gang is accused of being concerned in quite a lot of felony actions, together with homicide, assault with intent to homicide, armed theft, carjacking, house invasion, drug and gun trafficking and extra. Authorities say the gang operated within the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston and surrounding areas, promoting cocaine, crack cocaine, oxycodone and marijuana all through Massachusetts.

“The members of this felony group are accused of terrorizing the neighborhoods of Boston by committing violent crime together with conspiracy to commit homicide, theft, firearm and drug trafficking,” stated Gregory Lengthy, appearing commissioner of the Boston Police Division. “These arrests ship a transparent message that these felony enterprises won’t be tolerated in Boston.”

Whereas the Cameron Avenue gang is based totally in Boston, prosecutors say its alleged felony actions spanned different communities, together with Cambridge, Everett, Quincy, Randolph, Somerville, Taunton and elsewhere in Massachusetts.

“Members and associates of the Cameron Avenue gang have, for years, allegedly plagued Boston, Brockton and the neighboring communities with severe, violent crimes via the confluence of weapons, medicine and hurt. Legislation-abiding residents of Dorchester, Brockton and different impacted communities need to stay, work and thrive freed from concern and trauma,” stated U.S. Lawyer Rachael Rollins. “With these prices, and at present’s arrests, our goal is to carry peace and security again to those neighborhoods.”

Prosecutors declare Cameron Avenue gang members used violence in opposition to rival gangs and witnesses, sometimes with weapons, to keep up and enhance their very own standing and the general status of the gang in addition to to guard the gang’s energy and territory. Members of the gang, authorities say, are chargeable for serving to each other get weapons, kind drug trafficking connections, resolve territorial disputes with rival gangs and supply secure havens for fellow members needed by legislation enforcement.

Members are additionally accused of commonly posting movies or utilizing social media to advertise the Cameron Avenue gang, belittle gang rivals and rejoice murders and different violent crimes the gang is accused of committing. To establish themselves as being within the gang, the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace says, members would receive tattoos, use hand indicators and put on jewellery and clothes involving the letters “C,” “A” and “M” or numbers corresponding with the letters’ locations within the alphabet, “3-1-1-3.”

The next 19 people had been named by the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace as defendants within the case:

• Kenny Romero, also referred to as “KG,” 28, was charged with RICO conspiracy, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and distribution of cocaine base and cocaine.
• Anthony Centeio, also referred to as “Wheezy” and “Taliban Wheeze,” 33, was charged with RICO conspiracy, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and cocaine.
• Felisberto Lopes, also referred to as “Phil” and “CheeB,” 36, was charged with RICO conspiracy, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession of 500 grams or extra of cocaine with intent to distribute.
• Keiarri Dyette, also referred to as “Kemo,” 24, was charged with RICO conspiracy and dealing in firearms with out a license.
• Eric Correia, also referred to as “Bubba,” 24, was charged with RICO conspiracy and distribution of marijuana.
• Paulo Santos, also referred to as “Bucky,” 33, was charged with RICO conspiracy, possession of 500 grams or extra of cocaine with intent to distribute, being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm throughout a drug trafficking offense.
• Devante Lopes, also referred to as “D-Lopes,” 27, was charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute marijuana.
• Charod Taylor, also referred to as “Pachino,” 33, was charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and cocaine.
• Jose Afonseca, also referred to as “Zay,” 30, was charged with RICO conspiracy, dealing in firearms with out a license and conspiracy to distribute cocaine base.
• James Rodrigues, also referred to as “Bummy,” 32, was charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute cocaine base.
• Jonathan Darosa, also referred to as “Jeezy,” 29, was charged with RICO conspiracy, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and distribution of cocaine and oxycodone.
• Clayton Rodrigues, also referred to as “Lavatory” and “C-Lavatory,” 26, was charged with RICO conspiracy and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial quantity.
• Wilter Rodrigues, also referred to as “Walt” and “Wo-Wo,” 35, was charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine base.
• Michael Lopes, also referred to as “Meech,” 34, was charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and cocaine.
• Victor Nunez, also referred to as “Tito,” 41, was charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and cocaine.
• Fnu Lnu, also referred to as “Smoke,” was charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and cocaine.
• Jamaal Davis, also referred to as “Marley,” 29, was charged with distribution of cocaine and possession of a firearm throughout a drug trafficking offense.
• Michael Nguyen, also referred to as “Asian,” 22, was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a firearm throughout a drug trafficking offense.
• Steve Depina, also referred to as “Stizz,” 35, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and distribution of cocaine base and cocaine.