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U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said an indictment unsealed Wednesday accused the group of nine of being part of the "Yellow Tape Money Gang," or YTMG, and using violence and violent imagery to conspire to sell illegal narcotics.
"Those who deal in these dangerous drugs destroy communities and fuel a cycle of drug-induced violence," Bharara said in a statement. "Working with our partners at the FBI, ATF, the New York State Police, and the Newburgh Police Department, we seek to stamp out this type of drug trade in Newburgh."
Named in the indictment are Tyrin Gayle, aka "Spazzo;" Laquan Falls, aka "Greedy;" Gabriel Warren, aka "Stackz;" David Brown, aka "Baby Thot;" Brendan Germaine, aka "Brandan Germain;" Rashun Evans; Laquavious Boykin; Brittany Hall and Christopher Johnson, according to Bharara, who said Gayle, Falls and Warren took turns as leader of the operation.
All of those charged were arrested Wednesday and appeared later in federal court in White Plains.
Bharara continued to allege that the Yellow Tape Money Gang name is derived from the yellow tape often used by law enforcement to cordon off crimes scenes -- specifically during cases involving a murder -- and is meant to intimidate rival gangs.
According to the U.S. attorney, the alleged gang members "advertised their affiliation with their drug trafficking organization through posts on social media websites such as Facebook," often posting photos with guns, large stacks of cash and drugs.
At least three guns were said to have been recovered when authorities executed a series of search warrants Wednesday morning.
Bharara said all of the alleged gang members were charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine. Evans was additionally charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in connection to an alleged incident in May.
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