Queens Gang Plotted Four Rivals' Shootings In Far Rockaway: DA

FAR ROCKAWAY, QUEENS -- A group of Queens gang members could face years behind bars for turning neighborhood streets into "war zones," attempting to shoot rivals that crossed into their territory and then bragging about it on social media, prosecutors said.

A Queens County grand jury indicted nine members of the Wildmeda Crips Gang in Far Rockaway for allegedly plotting to shoot rival gang members in four failed murder attempts between 2015 and 2016.

"The defendants in this case are accused of turning neighborhood streets into violent war zones, where families and children are endangered simply by walking the streets of their community," said Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.

A yearslong NYPD investigation into the gang members - who range from 20 to 29 years old - uncovered phone conversations in which top-ranking associates ordered subordinates to kill or injure rivals and get weapons to keep their "territory" free of rival gangs, according to the charges.

The gang members often took to social media to boast about the shootings, using code words like "spanked," "popped his cherry," "it's litt" and "got busy," prosecutors said. They referred to a guns as a "situation," "jawn," "thoty," "whoopty" and "b---h," charges state.

The Wildmeda Crips targeted members of the 70Gs, SOS, Edgemere Bloods, Flammers and any other gang that crossed into their territory surrounding the Ocean Bay Housing Development, prosecutors said. They allegedly used guns, beatings and intimidation to maintain tight control over the area.

Six of the nine gang members were arraigned Thursday on the 52-count indictment. Two others, including "high-ranking member" Kamel Cardwell, are already behind bars. Cops are still searching for the ninth member.

If convicted, each faces maximums of 15-25 years in prison for the murder plots.

Lead photo via Shutterstock.