Defendants Enlisted Teens to Join Gang Centered on 137th Street in Central Harlem

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., announced the conviction of five defendants, who were part of a violent criminal street gang in Central Harlem, on conspiracy to commit narcotics and weapons offenses, among others. As proven at trial, the defendants – members of crews known as “2 Mafia Family” (2MF or 2DEEP) and “Goons on Deck” (G.O.D) – ran a profitable crack cocaine operation between June 2008 and February 2011. In addition to the possession and sale of crack cocaine, the defendants conspired to possess semiautomatic handguns, revolvers and ammunition to maintain their dominance of the geographic area centered on West 137th Street between Lenox and Seventh Avenues, and to discourage incursions by rival street gangs. With this verdict, all 14 defendants who were indicted on related charges have been convicted.

“This violent drug crew terrorized a neighborhood in Central Harlem,” said District Attorney Vance. “The defendants recruited young people to join their criminal operation and even directed its activities from prison, where four of them were incarcerated for other crimes. Drug activity and gang violence destroy families, communities, and in the cases of young people, futures. I would like to commend the jury for its service on this trial, but this Office’s work does not stop after trial.

“Equally as important as the criminal element we removed from the community are the efforts we are making to restore peace,” District Attorney Vance continued. “In the case of the 137th Street Crew, we have remained engaged in the community. We took part in a clean-up and restoration effort, and made sure teens stayed on the right path this summer by establishing an internship program that exposed them to educational and cultural opportunities. We’re also working on reducing youth truancy, and taking part in an upcoming gun buyback program on October 22 with the NYPD. Our children must have options, opportunities, and safe streets.”
 
As proven at trial, the 137th Street Crew members and their associates used violence, including shootings, beatings and robberies, to protect their narcotics trafficking business, to enhance their own status within the gang, and enhance the gang’s street credibility with rival street gangs. The defendants possessed 9-millimeter semiautomatic handguns with high-capacity magazines, .380-caliber semiautomatic handguns, .25-caliber semiautomatic handguns, and .32- and .38-caliber revolvers.

As proven at trial, the defendants continually communicated with one another throughout the period charged in the indictment, even while several were incarcerated. Leader JAQUAN LAYNE, 21, and his brother JAHLYL LAYNE, 18, oversaw sales of crack cocaine largely from jail, where they were incarcerated awaiting trial for an unrelated robbery. JONATHAN HERNANDEZ, 19, was also incarcerated during a portion of the conspiracy for a July 2010 shooting and gun possession case. Proceeds from the crack cocaine sales were used to support the defendants during the period of their incarceration through payments to their commissary accounts.

Additionally, HABIYB MOHAMMED, 31, packaged the crack cocaine, while JEFFREY BROWN, 20, sold the packaged crack cocaine on and around 137th Street.

Assistant District Attorneys Christopher Ryan, Chief of the Violent Criminal Enterprises Unit, and Christopher Prevost of the Violent Criminal Enterprises Unit prosecuted the case, under the supervision of Karen Friedman-Agnifilo, Chief of the Trial Division. DANY Deputy Chief Investigator Richard Bellucci, Supervisory Rackets Investigator Mark Stewart, Senior Rackets Investigator Reginald Barometre, and VCE Investigative Analysts Ellen Sise, Jonathan Taber, and Charles Bennett also assisted in the case.

District Attorney Vance thanked the NYPD, particularly members of Manhattan North Narcotics, for their assistance with this case.

Defendant Information:

JAQUAN LAYNE, a/k/a “Jay Cash,” a/k/a “Jay,” D.O.B. 8/7/1990
New York, NY

Convicted:
• Conspiracy in the First Degree, a class A-I felony, 1 count
• Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a class B felony, 1 count
• Conspiracy in the Third Degree, a class D felony, 1 count
• Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 1 count

JONATHAN HERNANDEZ, D.O.B. 1/18/1992
New York, NY

Convicted:
• Attempted Assault in the First Degree, a class C violent felony, 1 count
• Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, class C felony, 2 counts
• Conspiracy in the Third Degree, a class D felony, 1 count
• Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 1 count

JEFFREY BROWN, D.O.B. 9/22/1991
New York, NY

Convicted:
• Conspiracy in the First Degree, a class A-I felony, 1 count
• Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a class B felony, 1 count
• Conspiracy in the Third Degree, a class D felony, 1 count
• Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 1 count

JAHLYL LAYNE, a/k/a “Lyl,” D.O.B. 1/18/1993
New York, NY

Convicted:
• Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a class B felony, 1 count
• Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 1 count

HABIYB MOHAMMED, D.O.B. 11/21/1979
New York, NY

Convicted:
• Conspiracy in the First Degree, a class A-I felony, 1 count
• Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a class B felony, 1 count