Band of Brothers and Others Charged in Drug Case
| U.S. Attorney’s Office November 01, 2012 |
PHILADELPHIA—A superseding indictment and criminal complaint were unsealed today charging seven people in a drug case involving the distribution of PCP and crack cocaine, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger and FBI Special Agent in Charge George C. Venizelos. The charges allege that the defendants, four of whom are brothers, were distributing PCP and/or crack cocaine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Charged are Jerome Broaster, 38; Elliott Broaster, 34; Cassius Broaster, 37; Larkeem Broaster, 33; Shannon Powell, 36; Nick Higgens, 29; and Ronald Johnson, 26, all of Philadelphia. Jerome Broaster is charged in all 20 counts of the superseding indictment, including two drug conspiracy offenses. In the first drug conspiracy charge, Jerome Broaster and Powell are alleged to have conspired to distribute 100 grams or more of PCP between August 2011 and October 2011. They also are charged with two counts of distribution of 100 grams or more of PCP and two counts of distribution of 100 grams or more of PCP within 1,000 feet of a public school. In the second drug conspiracy charge, Jerome Broaster and Elliott Broaster are alleged to have conspired to distribute 100 grams or more of PCP between August 2011 and August 2012. They are also charged with three counts of distribution of PCP and three counts of distribution of PCP within 1,000 feet of a school. Jerome Broaster is also charged with one count of distribution of PCP and one count of distribution of PCP within 1,000 feet of a school in September 2011.
Jerome Broaster is also charged with one count of distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack”) and one count of distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack”) within 1,000 feet of a school in February 2012. Jerome Broaster and Cassius Broaster are also charged with one count of distribution of cocaine base (“crack”) and one count of distribution of cocaine base (“crack”) within 1,000 feet of a school in March 2012. Jerome Broaster, along with Higgens and Johnson, are also charged with one count of distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack”) and one count of distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack”) within 1,000 feet of a school in October 2012.
If convicted, Jerome Broaster faces a maximum possible sentence of life, with a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years; a maximum fine of $132 million; a mandatory minimum of 16 years up to lifetime supervised release; and a $2,000 special assessment.
If convicted, Elliott Broaster faces a maximum possible sentence of life, with a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years; a maximum fine of $50 million; a mandatory minimum of 16 years up to lifetime supervised release; and a $900 special assessment.
If convicted, Cassius Broaster faces a maximum possible sentence of 60 years, with a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of one year; a maximum fine of $6 million; a mandatory minimum of 12 years up to lifetime supervised release; and a $200 special assessment.
If convicted, Shannon Powell faces a maximum possible sentence of life, with a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years; a maximum fine of $56 million; a mandatory minimum of 16 years up to lifetime supervised release; and a $500 special assessment.
If convicted, Nick Higgens faces a maximum possible sentence of 80 years, with a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years; a maximum fine of $15 million; a mandatory minimum of eight years up to lifetime supervised release; and a $200 special assessment.
If convicted, Ronald Johnson faces a maximum possible sentence of life, with a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years; a maximum fine of $24 million; a mandatory minimum of 16 years up to lifetime supervised release; and a $200 special assessment.
Additionally, Larkeem Broaster was charged yesterday by complaint and warrant with the distribution, and aiding and abetting the distribution, of 100 grams or more of PCP. According to the complaint, Larkeem Broaster assisted his brother, Elliott Broaster, in distributing approximately eight ounces of PCP in Philadelphia on October 3, 2012. If convicted, Larkeem Broaster faces a maximum possible sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment on the Philadelphia charges.
Today, agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested Jerome Broaster, Elliott Broaster, Cassius Broaster, Larkeem Broaster, and Shannon Powell. Nick Higgens and Ronald Johnson remain at large.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tomika N. Stevens.