14 Mid-Hudson Gang Members Face Racketeering Charges: Feds

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — Fourteen members of a mid-Hudson Valley gang were charged with racketeering, narcotics and firearms offenses, federal prosecutors said.

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced Thursday the unsealing of a 10-count indictment that accused 14 members of the Young Gunnaz Gang — or YG — including its high-ranking street leaders, with acts of violence and trafficking large amounts of narcotics across the city of Newburgh and New York state.

They also were accused of perpetrating fraud schemes to enrich members of the gang.

Williams said, when he was sworn in as U.S. attorney, he promised that his office would be relentless in rooting out violent crime.

“That’s a promise I am determined to keep,” he said. “Today, we’re announcing a sweeping RICO indictment charging 14 members and associates of a violent gang that we allege was up to no good: Running open air drug markets, engaging in shootouts in the broad daylight and doing whatever it took to control the street and do their dirt.

“Well, not anymore,” Williams said. “Let today’s massive takedown be a warning to all gang members. The feds are watching. And you better believe we don’t quit.”

Prosecutors said Kashad Sampson, aka “Shoca,” 23, George Delgado, aka “Groc,” 23, Gabriel Roman, aka “Gabe,” 23, Dallas Archer, aka “Muggas,” 25, Jasiah Wooten, aka “Hov,” 24, Bruce Allen, aka “Bam,” 24, Syncere Tatum, aka “Syn,” 22, John Lalanne, aka “JJ,” 23, Raekwon Jackson, aka Tree,” 22, Bashir Mallory, aka “BG,” aka “Bear,” 19, Mekhi Mcdonald, aka “Khi,” 19, Christopher Tate, aka “Bag,” 19, Kristopher Burgess Cunningham, aka “KG,” 28, and Dejon Scott, aka “Red Dot,” 27, are members and associated of a racketeering conspiracy known as YG.

According to prosecutors:

• On Aug. 15, 2020, Sampson, Archer, Lalanne and Jackson, for the purpose of maintaining and increasing their positions in the YG enterprise, participated in and facilitated the attempted murder of rival gang members in Poughkeepsie.
• On April 27, 2021, Tatum, Roman and Tate tried to rob and shot at a rival drug dealer in Newburgh.
• On Nov. 17, 2021, Sampson, Delgado, Wooten and Allen, shot at four rival gang members in Newburgh.
• On Nov. 10, 2020, Lalanne robbed a narcotics dealer at gunpoint and dischraged his firearm in Newburgh.
• From at least 2019 to the present, all 14 gang members participated in a conspiracy to distribute a substantial amount of narcotics, including crack cocaine, heroin, oxycodone, marijuana and promethazine HCL mixed with codeine, commonly known as “lean.” They also possess numerous firearms in connection with this narcotics conspiracy.

Only Wooten, Jackson and Scott have not been arrested.

All 14 men were charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering, which could bring them 20 years in prison if convicted.

All but Archer were charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Other charges include attempted murder, possession and discharge of a firearm in the furtherance of a crime of violence and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering.