October 3, 2014

Bloods Street Gang Leader Sentenced to 30 Years of Imprisonment for Racketeering, Murder, Drug Distribution, and Firearms Use

Today in Brooklyn federal court, Laron Spicer, also known as “Face,” a leader of the “Nine-Trey Gangsters” set of the Bloods street gang in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, was sentenced to a 30-year prison term for charges related to the set’s control of illegal activity on Sterling Place between Buffalo and Rochester Avenues for over 12 years. Throughout the period of Spicer’s leadership of the set, Sterling Place was beset by gang-related drive-by shootings, regular gunfire, slashings and drug dealing. As the set’s primary enforcer, Spicer was responsible for numerous acts of violence, including shootings and slashings, and held neighborhood residents in fear of violent retribution for questioning his authority or cooperating with law enforcement.

The sentencing was announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, George Venizelos, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office, and William J. Bratton, Commissioner, New York City Police Department.

“For over a decade, Spicer used violence and brutality to terrorize the streets of Crown Heights. Let today’s lengthy sentence be a message to other gang members victimizing their own communities—we will not tolerate violence and gang-related crimes,” stated United States Attorney Lynch. Ms. Lynch thanked the FBI, the NYPD, and the Kings County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance in this case.

In 2010, an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York City Police Department led to the indictment and arrest of Spicer and 11 of the gang’s members and associates on charges including racketeering, drug distribution, murder and two attempted murder. Among other acts, Spicer was charged with four non-fatal shootings and the 2008 murder of rival drug dealer William Singletary, who had set up a competing drug operation in the gang’s territory. During the period charged in the indictment, Spicer was arrested 30 times by New York City police officers and was convicted of, among other offenses, illegal gun possession on five occasions and witness tampering for threatening to kill a police officer who was testifying against him at a state court proceeding. On December 19, 2013, Spicer pled guilty to federal charges of racketeering, narcotics distribution conspiracy, and ordering the murder of Singletary.

The government’s case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Amatruda, Nadia Shihata and Erik Paulsen.

The Defendant:

LARON A. SPICER Alias: “Face” Age: 34