June 14, 2007
Special Agent DouglasS. Collier,
Public InformationOfficer
TEL: (973) 776-1143
CEL: (862) 849-9833
Newark Blood Members and Associates Arrested in Operation: First Blood
JUN 14  -- (NEWARK) - Gerard P. McAleer, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA New Jersey Division, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie, and Essex County Prosecutor Paula A. Dow announced fifteen members and associates of the Blood street gang were charged federally on drug-trafficking and weapons charges in Operation First Blood. . Some of the defendants were trafficking in semi-automatic assault rifles and high-powered handguns and, in one case, a fully automatic machine gun.
The charges and arrests were the result of a year-long investigation using three 
cooperating witnesses to make more than 20 purchases of crack cocaine, heroin and 
firearms from members and associates of the Nine Tre Bloods set in Newark.
The investigation and arrests are the work of the Essex-Federal Gang Suppression 
Partnership, formed in early 2006 by Dow and Christie to combine federal, state and local 
law enforcement resources and federal statutes with their enhanced penalties to target 
street gangs in Essex County.
One of the federally charged defendants was arrested last evening; 12 were picked up this 
morning, and another two are still being sought. The Essex County Prosecutor's Office 
will be prosecuting at least three others on state charges.
The federally charged defendants in custody were all expected to make initial 
appearances at 2 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Madeline Cox Arleo.
Over the course of the investigation, at least 14 firearms, including handguns, assault 
rifles (including the machine gun) and one shotgun, were sold to the cooperating 
witnesses, as well as approximately 560 grams of crack cocaine and a smaller amount of 
heroin.
In one instance, for example, defendant Omar Curry, a high-ranking member or "5-star 
general" of the Nine Tre Bloods, arranged the sale of an SKS Chinese-made semiautomatic 
assault rifle to a cooperating witness for $1,200, according to one criminal 
Complaint. Curry also sold several other firearms and directed numerous sales of crack 
and heroin, according to the Complaint. Because of the number of weapons he sold, 
Curry is also charged with trafficking in firearms.
In another transaction, on June 7, Eric Hayes allegedly sold a fully automatic AK-47 
assault rifle with an ammunition magazine with 21 rounds to one of the cooperating 
witnesses. Hayes also sold a Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun and a semi-automatic assault 
rifle to the cooperating witness.
Another defendant, Harry Quiah allegedly sold three firearms including a defaced .45 
caliber handgun, an SKS assault rifle and .40-caliber Glock handgun, along with 99 
grams of crack to cooperating witnesses.
Many of the defendants, including Omar, Hayes and Quiah, have prior felony convictions 
in state or federal court and, as such, are charged federally with being felons in possession 
of firearms, as well as other charges. Convictions under that statute alone carry a 
maximum federal prison sentence of 10 years. See the addendum below for a list of the 
defendants and a summary of their alleged activities and the charges against them.
The felon in possession charges have the added benefit of taking dangerous defendants 
off the street immediately. Prior convicted felons caught in possession of weapons are 
almost always denied bail and held pending disposition of their cases.
The investigation centered primarily around activity in and around two public housing complexes in Newark , the Fairview Homes and Steven Crane Village.
Curry and others charged today, including Hayes, lived in those apartments. Meetings and sales often took place in the suspects' apartments or were directed from the apartments.
"We have applied federal resources to the pressure point of drug violence in Newark , and 
it will help stem the flow of blood on our streets," said Gerard P. McAleer, Special Agent 
in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New Jersey Division.
"Gang members have turned Newark neighborhoods into killing zones," said Christie. 
"Imagine the carnage that a Bloods gang member could inflict with a fully automatic 
machine gun. This is what we are all up against and what we want to stop. We intend to 
arrest, prosecute and put these and other gang members and associates in federal prison 
for as long as we possibly can."
"We in law enforcement view these violent street gangs as domestic terrorists - domestic 
terrorists who wreak havoc in our neighborhoods by instilling fear in ordinary citizens," 
said Dow. "Today, simply put, we ganged up on a gang. Our message to gang members 
is this: We're watching you intently, we'll arrest you unexpectedly, and most of all - 
we'll prosecute you extensively."
Despite Indictment or being charged in a criminal complaint, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and federal law.