Pubdate: Thu, 18 May 2006 Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA) Copyright: 2006 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc Contact: http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/340 Author: Troy Graham, Inquirer Staff Writer Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) ALLEGED DRUG GANG CHARGED IN CAMDEN Federal officials said 20 people were part of an operation selling $20,000 worth of cocaine weekly In November, Rashad Smith told a government informant that he was wearing himself out selling drugs. He said he was feeling the pressure to cash in "because if he waits too long, he expects the feds to come," according to court documents. Apparently, Smith waited too long. He and 19 other people who authorities say belong to a South Camden drug gang called the M.O.B. Boys were charged with drug conspiracy in a criminal complaint unsealed yesterday in federal court. Conviction could carry a life sentence. The M.O.B. Boys sold at least $20,000 worth of cocaine and crack each week in the 1200 block of Morton Street, where they sometimes operated 24 hours a day, authorities said. Prosecutors also implicated Smith, a Gloucester Township resident identified as one of four leaders of the drug set, in the March 22 shooting death of Anthony "Skip" Brown. Federal authorities said Brown may have been a supplier for the drug ring and sometimes cooked cocaine into crack. Brown was shot three times in the head in the 700 block of Chestnut Street. Witnesses said they had seen Smith leaving the scene. When stopped by police, Smith gave a phony name and would not answer questions about the homicide. He was jailed instead for owing $70,000 in child support. No one has been charged in the homicide. U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie called the case "a major dagger in a large drug-trafficking gang." He also recalled a promise to use federal resources to fight crime in Camden. "This is an example where not only the promise was kept, but exceeded," he said. Smith, 33, was described as one of the "controlling members" of the old Hilltop Gang, which was formed in 1989. Authorities said he and Troy Clark, an alleged fellow leader, branched off to form the M.O.B. Boys; the abbreviation stands for Middle of the Block. Clark, 37, was arrested at his Camden home yesterday morning. Smith was arrested earlier this month after police found more than 13 ounces of crack in his car. Two other alleged gang leaders - Jermaine Coleman, 33, of Camden, and Trevor Smith, 34, of Berlin Township - remained fugitives yesterday. Federal agents penetrated the gang with at least six informants, including one who they said had made drug runs to a Dominican wholesaler in New Brunswick, N.J., and returned with the cocaine in a diaper bag. The agents investigated the ring for more than two years, running surveillance around the city, tapping numerous cell phones, and installing a hidden "pole camera" on Morton Street. They watched an organization that sold drugs efficiently in shifts, with leaders evenly dividing the responsibilities. Several members, including David "Bussie" Lee, had been picked up on state charges, authorities said. He was packaging crack cocaine in a Days Inn motel room last month with two women, authorities said. As they were leaving, a Cherry Hill police officer tried to stop their car. Lee drove off. One of the women, Nechelle Hardwick, called Rashad Smith for advice during the pursuit. Federal agents listened to the call. "Bussie is taking us on a ride with the... cops," she said, according to court documents. "They on him... . We got to bail somewhere." The documents added one final detail: "It should be noted the police sirens are heard in the background of the conversation." - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman