Leader of Notorious Drug Gang Sentenced to Life plus 85 Years in Prison for Using Violence and Murder to Protect Drug Operations
- Leader Who Cooperated and Testified Also Sentenced to Prison -

CAMDEN – A leader of a major heroin and crack cocaine distribution ring in Camden was sentenced to life plus 85 years in federal prison today for his conviction on drug and weapons charges, in which the jury found that the defendant, along with his co-defendants, conspired to protect their drug operation through the use of violence that included the murders of three people, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler also ordered Bernard Murray, 29, a/k/a “B-Nice” of Camden, to pay a $25,000 fine.

Also today, Judge Kugler sentenced Enrique Perez, 39, of Camden, another leader in the drug organization to 25 years in prison. Judge Kugler ordered Perez to pay a $20,000 fine and to serve five years of supervised release upon the completion of his prison sentence.

On Jan. 9, 2004, Perez pleaded guilty before Judge Kugler to drug and weapons charges, admitting also that he and others gunned down Hiram Rosa, a Rutgers University student, in Camden in February 2001. At sentencing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Smith informed the court that shortly after his arrest on Sept. 13, 2002, Perez began cooperating with law enforcement authorities and provided information on the drug organization’s operations and its related violence, including the three murders. Perez also testified at the trial of his co-defendants.

On June 6, 2005, after eight hours of deliberations, the jury convicted Murray and Allen Resto, 26, of Camden, a/k/a “Tito Allen,” both leaders of the drug organization, Lorenzo Hardwick, 39, of Camden, a/k/a “FuQuan,” a drug-set manager, and Jose Rodriguez, 24, a heroin bagger, of one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin and crack cocaine.

The jury also convicted Murray, Resto and Hardwick of one count of possessing, brandishing and use of firearms, namely an AK-47 rifle and three handguns, in relation to a drug trafficking crime in the February 2001 murder of Rosa as that murder related to the drug conspiracy. The three defendants also were convicted of one count each of use of a firearm in the furtherance of a drug crime, that being discharging, possessing and using firearms in the furtherance of the overall conspiracy.

Murray and Resto also were convicted of two counts of possessing, brandishing and use of firearms in relation to a drug trafficking crime. The charges are in connection with the use of a 9 millimeter handgun in the March 2001 murder of Kenneth Allen; and using an AK-47 and a .22 caliber handgun in the October 2001 murder of Troy James, as the killings related to the drug conspiracy.

Murray was also convicted of one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm relating to a semi-automatic handgun found in his home on the day of his arrest.

Hardwick was sentenced on April 28, 2006, to life plus 30 years in federal prison. Rodriguez was sentenced on April, 27, 2006, to 30 years in federal prison. Resto’s sentencing is pending appointment of new counsel.

“Two members of this violent drug gang, and hopefully a third when Resto is sentenced, will never again step onto the streets of Camden or any other town for that matter,” said Christie. “These well-deserved prison sentences should stand as a guarantee to others involved in Camden’s violent drug-gang culture. The law enforcement community is united in the their efforts to catch you, prosecute you under federal law and send you to a high-security federal prison far away from Camden for a very, very long time.”

During the trial, Perez, along with others, testified that from January 1998 through September 2002 he, Murray and Resto controlled the flow of heroin in the areas of 5th and Grant Streets and 9th and Cedar Streets. Perez testified that they used managers to operate the drug sets on a daily basis. Hardwick managed the crack cocaine drug set located at 7th and Vine St., according to Perez’s testimony. According to Perez’s testimony, Rodriguez packaged the bulk heroin for street sales and performed other tasks for the organization. Perez also testified that he, Murray, Hardwick and Resto were involved in the Rosa murder; that he, Murray, Resto and drug set manager David Lopez were involved in the Allen murder; and that Murray and Resto were involved in the murder of James.

For more information on the conviction, a news release is available on the office website located at: www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj

In total, 12 individuals were charged in connection with the Perez Organization’s drug trafficking and violence. All defendants have either pleaded guilty to the charges against them or have been convicted by a jury following their trial.

Perez, Murray, and Hardwick are, according to the original criminal complaint, members of the Camden street gang known as the “Sons of Malcolm X” (SOMX). This violent gang’s initiation rite required members to kill someone to gain membership. Many SOMX members were prosecuted in the 1990s. Murray has a tattoo with the gang symbol S.O.M.X.

In determining the actual sentence, Judge Kugler consulted the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges that take into account the severity and characteristics of the offense, the defendant's criminal history, if any, and other factors. The judge, however, is not bound by those guidelines in determining a sentence.

Parole has been abolished in the federal system. Defendants who are given custodial terms must serve nearly all that time.

Christie credited Special Agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Brian W. Lynch, in Philadelphia; the Camden County Prosecutor's Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor James P. Lynch; the Camden City Police Department, under the direction of Robert L. Stewart, Camden Police Department Interim Supersession Executive; DEA, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gerard P. McAleer, in Newark; ATF, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Mark Potter in Philadelphia; the U.S. Marshal's Service, under the direction of U.S. Marshal James T. Plousis; the Camden County Sheriff's Department, under the direction of Sheriff Michael W. McLaughlin; Rutgers’s University Police, under the direction of Chief Guy Still; and the Delaware River Port Authority Police, under the direction of Chief Vincent J. Borelli, for their respective roles in the investigation.

The Government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Smith and Jason Richardson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.

Defense Attorney:

Murray - Michael Riley, Esq. Mt. Holly

Perez - Louis Savino, Esq. Philadelphia

Elliot Cohen, Esq. Philadelphia