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Takedown of Staten Island's 'WB Savages' Gang Nets 10, Prosecutors Say

By Nicholas Rizzi | May 27, 2016 3:40pm | Updated on May 31, 2016 8:26am
 Police arrested 10 suspects, most of whom were allegedly part of the
Police arrested 10 suspects, most of whom were allegedly part of the "WB Savages" street gang, for the sale of heroin, a shooting and weapons possession, prosecutors said.
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Special Narcotics Prosecutor's Office

WEST BRIGHTON — Ten members of a Staten Island gang connected to the Bloods were indicted for heroin sale and weapons possession Friday after a nearly yearlong investigation by police, Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan announced.

The suspects, aged from 17 to 41, were members of the "WB Savages" that is linked to the sale of heroin, a shooting, weapons possession and leading police on a car chase in March, prosecutors said.

Members of "WB Savages," named after their home neighborhood of West Brighton, got drugs from a supplier based in Manhattan and sold them near the West Brighton Houses and around the borough.

In one September 2015 incident, members of the gang exchanged fire with others after a dispute on a Staten Island street.

"This case reveals an inextricable link between narcotics trafficking and violence in New York City and our response demonstrates our commitment to eradicating it," Brennan said in a statement.

"By transporting heroin from Manhattan and selling it to users on Staten Island, the defendants fueled a devastating drug epidemic that continues to escalate, claiming lives as a result of addiction and overdose."

Jahiek Chunn, 32, of New Brighton, and Travis Johnson, 20, of West Brighton, were the alleged ringleaders of the gang.

They took shipments of heroin from supplier Darroll Waterman, 41, of Mariners Harbor, who drove them from Manhattan to Staten Island in his Jeep, and his runner Timothy Phillips, 36, of Mariners Harbor, prosecutors said.

Chunn and Travis shared a cellphone to take orders for the drugs and, during the course of the investigation started in August 2015, had members sell heroin 28 times to undercover officers, prosecutors said.

The undercover officers bought more than 2,000 glassine bags of heroin — with a street value of more than $20,000 — from the "WB Savages" during the investigation.

Aside from the sale of drugs, members allegedly posed with guns for pictures on social media and had a drug dispute turn violent on Sept. 28, 2015, which led to Chunn being shot at in front of 169 Campbell Ave., prosecutors said.

"WB Savages" member Yohance Eaton, 18, allegedly returned fire at Chunn's shooter and was later heard on wire-tapped phone calls saying "I started gonging at him… gong, gong, gong, gong, gong… he lucky he got away."

Eaton was indicted on attempted assault charges for the shooting, prosecutors said.

On March 15, Johnson and others led police on a car chase through West Brighton and tossed out bags from the car that had more than 15 grams of heroin in them. Johnson was recorded later saying "I had to toss my whole bomb" on phone calls, prosecutors said.

On April 8, members of the NYPD's Staten Island Gang Squad responded to reports of two armed men in a deli at 261 Broadway and found Johnson and another inside with guns, prosecutors said.

When police tried to stop the two, Johnson fled the store and jumped a fence while the other tossed his jacket behind the counter and ran away. Both escaped arrest but officers recovered their guns.

The 10 suspects were arrested Thursday and were scheduled to be arraigned in Manhattan on Friday, prosecutors said.

Chunn and Johnson were indicted on conspiracy to sell and possess controlled substances, conspiracy to criminally possess weapons and other charges, prosecutors said.

Waterman and Phillips were also indicted for the conspiracy charges.

The other suspects are: Shaheem McLean, 17, of West Brighton; Omari Eaton, 25, of New Brighton; Shalae Holt, 19, of Port Richmond; Lynelle Farris, 17, of West Brighton and Jeffrey Register, 19, of Mariners Harbor.

They face several charges including conspiracy to sell and possess controlled substances and conspiracy to criminally possess weapons.

"This joint takedown signifies a concerted effort to address the reign of violence, drugs and lawlessness that these individuals are alleged to have wreaked on Staten Island," District Attorney Michael McMahon said in a statement.

"Make no mistake about it — we will prosecute those who callously destroy the lives of others, whether through violence or drugs, to the full extent of the law."