Office of the Attorney General: Member of Sex Money Murder Gang Pleads Guilty to Racketeering
- Second member sentenced to five years in state prison for drug distribution

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

August 08, 2008

Contact: Peter Aseltine
609-292-4791


TRENTON – Attorney General Anne Milgram and Criminal Justice Director Deborah L. Gramiccioni announced that one member of the Sex Money Murder set of the Bloods street gang pleaded guilty to racketeering today, and a second member was sentenced to state prison for distributing narcotics.

According to Director Gramiccioni, Henry Lopez, 28, who is incarcerated in South Woods State Prison, pleaded guilty today to second-degree racketeering before Superior Court Judge Anthony J. Mellaci Jr. in Monmouth County. He admitted that as a member of Sex Money Murder, he communicated information within the prison system regarding assaults to be carried out by the gang. Under the plea agreement, the state will recommend a four-year state prison sentence. Judge Mellaci scheduled his sentencing for Oct. 24.

In addition, gang member Kazimu Shomari, aka Anthony Woods, 44, was sentenced today to five years in state prison by Judge Mellaci. Shomari, who already was in South Woods State Prison on other charges, pleaded guilty on May 21 to second-degree distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. Shomari admitted that on Feb. 18, 2007, he distributed at least one-half ounce of cocaine in the City of Passaic.

A third gang member, Royce Hodges, 35, of Irvington, was sentenced by Judge Mellaci on July 25 to four years in prison with 30 months of parole ineligibility. He pleaded guilty on May 21 to two counts of third-degree distribution of heroin within 1,000 feet of a school. Hodges admitted that on March 7 and 12, 2007, he distributed heroin within 1,000 feet of the Alexander Street School in Newark.

On Aug. 15, Judge Mellaci is scheduled to sentence a fourth gang member, Michael Rutledge, 21, of Newark, who pleaded guilty on May 21 to two counts of second-degree distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. Rutledge admitted that on two occasions, on May 2 and 17, 2007, he distributed at least one-half ounce of cocaine in Newark. He faces up to five years in state prison.

Supervising Deputy Attorney General Mark Eliades, Chief of the Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau, has prosecuted the cases. Deputy Attorney General Philip Aronow handled today’s hearings. The charges stem from a cooperative investigation by the New Jersey State Police, Division of Criminal Justice, State Parole Board, Passaic County Sheriff’s Department, Paterson Police Department, Newark Police Department and state Department of Corrections.

In September 2007, the Division of Criminal Justice obtained two indictments, one charging 23 members of Sex Money Murder, including the two alleged leaders in Mercer County and the alleged leader in Monmouth and Ocean counties, and a second charging 11 individuals, including those who were in court today and all three members of the state leadership committee of Sex Money Murder.