Providence Street Gang Rico Indictment

Six Alleged Street Gang Members and Associates Indicted for Allegedly Violating the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization Act

RICO indictment alleges the street gang operates as a criminal enterprise engaged in violent crimes such as attempted murders, felony assaults and federal firearms offenses

PROVIDENCE, RI – Six men who are alleged to be associated with a criminal enterprise generally known as Chad, Chad Brown, Chad Brown Posse, Chad Brown Cut Throats, Cut Throat Committee, Chad Brown Killers, CBK, The Bricks, and Hova Gang, among others (collectively, “the Chad Brown Gang”) have been charged by way of a federal indictment with violating the Racketeer Influenced Criminal Organization Act (RICO) by allegedly engaging in attempted murders, felony assaults, federal firearms offenses, drug trafficking and obstruction of justice.

It is alleged in the indictment that the six individuals are members of a criminal enterprise that engaged in violent crimes in aid of racketeering. Among the alleged crimes detailed in the indictment are four drive-by shootings in Providence. The violent criminal acts were allegedly carried out by members of the criminal enterprise with the use of firearms, in violation of federal law.

Four of the individuals named in the indictment are alleged to have participated in drive-by shootings that, according to the indictment and information presented to the Court, were in retaliation for felony assaults, shootings, and murders of Chad Brown gang members or associates, or members of other street gangs allied with the Chad Brown street gang. In at least one instance, in an apparent case of mistaken identity, multiple shots were fired into a car driven by a person who was not the intended target.

Utilizing technology provided by the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives linked six shootings in Providence to the same firearm, allegedly owned by one of the defendants, and shared among gang members. Three of the shootings charged in the indictment involved that handgun.

The indictment, the result of a two-year Project Safe Neighborhoods Investigation by the Providence Police Department; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); ATF Task Force; United States Attorney’s Office; and the Rhode Island Department of Attorney General is announced by United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch, Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin, ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge Lawrence J. Panetta, and Providence Public Safety Commissioner Steven M. Paré.

“Reducing violent crime has been and remains a top priority for the Department of Justice.  Project Safe Neighborhoods allows federal, state and local law enforcement to collaboratively focus their resources to combat this problem.  Together, we have used and will continue to use all of the investigative and legal tools available to us to target and hold responsible individuals responsible for driving and committing violent crime within our local communities,” commented United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch.

“The gun and gang violence perpetrated by this criminal enterprise is fueled by long-simmering feuds that has wreaked chaos and fear throughout every corner of our capital city.  The actions of these defendants individually and collectively are extremely violent, show an utter disregard for human life, and cannot be allowed to flourish or further infect this community,” said Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin.  “Addressing these criminal enterprises requires great cooperation between law enforcement agencies at every level.  Working hand in glove with Providence Police and our state and federal partners, we have identified those responsible for the criminal enterprise, and we will use every available legal avenue to shut down and put an end to the organized and senseless violence being wreaked by these gangs.”

               “These charges against six gang members centered in the Chad Brown neighborhood of Providence are another example of law enforcement’s collective strategy to target, disrupt and eliminate violent and dangerous criminal enterprises, and to cut off their means of funding from the illegal sale of drugs and guns,” said Providence Public Safety Commissioner Steven M. Paré. “Bringing federal, state and local resources to bear on this criminal enterprise is the best approach in dismantling an organization that uses violence as a means of operation.  Using ATF technology and expertise to connect guns to shell casings which led to connecting gang members to shootings was instrumental, combined with using the police officers, detectives, agents and prosecutors to build a case that resulted in these indictments.  Providence and the region will be a safer place with these individuals off the street.”

“Investigating, arresting, and incarcerating criminals who use guns and violence to intimidate communities and commit violent crime is ATF’s number one priority in Rhode Island.  ATF is proud to collaborate with our law enforcement partners and bring the most advanced forensic science to the fight against gun crime,” said Lawrence Panetta, Acting Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston.  “The National Integrated Ballistic Information Network is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms.  ATF works to reduce violent crime by targeting and dismantling these types of criminal organizations who pose the greatest threat to public safety.”

The 29-count indictment unsealed by U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Lincoln D. Almond charges:

• Delacey Andrade. 24, of North Providence, with Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization; four counts of Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering; two counts of Felon in Possession of a Firearm; three counts of Use of a Firearm in a Federal Crime of Violence; and Distribution of Cocaine;

• Keishon Johnson, 28, of Providence, with Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization;  three counts of Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering; three counts of Felon in Possession of a Firearm; three counts of Use of a Firearm in a Federal Crime of Violence; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana; and Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana;

• Montrel Johnson, 22, of Providence, with Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization; two counts of Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering; Use of a Firearm in a Federal Crime of Violence; four counts of Obstruction of Justice; and Criminal Contempt of Court;

• Marcel Jones, 30, of West Warwick, with Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering; Felon in Possession of a Firearm; and Use of a Firearm in a Federal Crime of Violence;

• Kendrick Johnson, 27, of North Providence, with Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization; Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering; Felon in Possession of a Firearm; Use of a Firearm in a Federal Crime of Violence; and six counts of Distribution of Cocaine; and

• Christopher Britto, 25, of Warwick, with Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering and Use of a Firearm in a Federal Crime of Violence

An indictment is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Project Safe Neighborhoods is a federal, state and local law enforcement collaboration to identify, investigate and prosecute individuals responsible for violent crimes in our neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

The case is being prosecuted in U.S. District Court by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gerard B. Sullivan and Sandra R. Hebert, and Assistant Attorney General James Baum of the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office.

United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch, and ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge Lawrence J. Panetta acknowledge and thank the member agencies of the ATF Task Force, the Providence and Pawtucket Police Departments; Rhode Island State Police; and the Rhode Island Department of Corrections, as well as the North Providence Police Department and the United States Marshals Service for their efforts in the investigation.