Grape Street Crips Street Gang Member Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Crack Cocaine Conspiracy

NEWARK, NJ—A member of the Grape Street Crips criminal street gang was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for his role in a Newark-based crack cocaine distribution conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Rasheed Smith, a/k/a “Weed,” 20, of Newark, previously pleaded guilty to a superseding information charging one count of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. Smith entered his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler, who also imposed today’s sentence in Newark federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Rasheed Smith, along with fellow Newark residents, gang member Marquis Works, 26, and associate Stevie Buckuse, a/k/a “Black,” 35, conspired to distribute almost 200 grams of crack cocaine in Newark. Smith admitted to making arrangements at the Hyatt Court housing community with an individual to whom the conspirators made two sales. Those sales were monitored by law enforcement.

Works pleaded guilty on November 4, 2010, to crack cocaine charges and on May 31, 2011, to being a felon in possession of a firearm and failing to appear for a court proceeding. A jury found Buckuse guilty of three crack cocaine charges on June 9, 2011. Both Works and Buckuse await sentencing by Judge Chesler.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Chesler sentenced Smith to serve five years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent In Charge Michael B. Ward in Newark, with the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rodney Villazor of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Narcotics/Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Unit in Newark.

Defense counsel: Laurie Fierro Esq., Kinnelon, N.J.