The following men, both Trenton residents, were sentenced today by Superior Court Judge Robert C. Billmeier for their roles in the murder of Kareem Washington, who was fatally shot in a retaliation shooting because he was a member of the rival Nine Trey Gangsters:

1. Anthony “Ace” Coleman, 28, was sentenced to 20 years in prison, including 17 years without possibility of parole.  He pleaded guilty to a first-degree charge of aggravated manslaughter for fatally shooting Washington, 28, in the neck on Ellsworth Avenue on Aug. 28, 2005.  Coleman shot him in retaliation for prior shootings of Gangster Killer Bloods by Nine Trey Gangsters, including shootings that took place the day before on Passaic Street that wounded three Gangster Killer Bloods members.

2. Curtis “Rabbit” Hawkins, 26, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, including nearly 13 years of parole ineligibility. He pleaded guilty to first-degree conspiracy to commit murder in connection with Washington’s murder.  Hawkins and another gang member, Juan “Cherokee” Robinson, were in a car with Coleman searching for a member of the Nine Trey Gangsters to kill when they saw Washington. Coleman got out and killed him. Robinson also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder.  He is awaiting sentencing and faces a 12-year prison sentence, including over 10 years of parole ineligibility.

In addition, Judge Billmeier today sentenced Bruce "Black Magic" Duette, 32, of Trenton, to 20 years in prison, including 17 years of parole ineligibility.  He pleaded guilty to first-degree conspiracy to commit murder for conspiring with other Gangster Killer Bloods members to commit a drive-by shooting on July 27, 2005 against a group of unknown Crips members gathered on North Logan Avenue.  Duette was in the process of getting a Thompson .45-caliber machine gun to carry out the shooting when other gang members opened fire on the Crips. There was no evidence anyone was hit.

Deputy Attorney General Daniel I. Bornstein prosecuted the defendants for the Division of Criminal Justice Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau and handled the sentencings.  The defendants were charged in “Operation Capital City,” an investigation by the Division of Criminal Justice, Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, Trenton Police Department and New Jersey State Police.

"Gang violence doesn’t just impact gang members, it imperils all of us, our communities, and our families,” said Attorney General Chiesa.  “We will continue to do all within our power to dismantle New Jersey’s gang networks and secure lengthy prison sentences for those who terrorize our neighborhoods with senseless brutality and killing.”

“Operation Capital City targeted gang leader Bernard Green and the other members of the Gangster Killer Bloods who carried out his orders to rain fire on rival gangs in the summer of 2005, orders that led to the death of an innocent bystander, Sharee Voorhees,” said Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice. “Working with our partners in the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, Trenton Police Department and New Jersey State Police, we have ensured that Green and his violent subordinates will be off the street for many years.”

The three defendants sentenced today were among 16 defendants indicted in connection with the crimes that occurred in 2005, when violence erupted between the Gangster Killer Bloods and two rival Bloods sets, the Nine Trey Gangsters and Sex Money Murder.  There was also violence against the rival Crips gang.  Three people were killed, including 22-year-old Sharee Voorhees, who was caught in crossfire while out on her porch. Kareem Washington was killed the same day as Voorhees.

On March 25, Bernard Green, 30, aka “Petey Black,” the head of the Gangster Killer Bloods in Trenton, pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter for ordering that gang members carry out the shooting that resulted in Voorhees’ death.  He also pled guilty to racketeering.  Under his plea agreement, he faces 36 years in prison, including 22 years of parole ineligibility.  Green is scheduled to be sentenced on May 31 by Judge Billmeier.

One of the gunmen involved in the shooting that killed Voorhees, Keith “Droop” Parker, 32, of Trenton, was sentenced on April 19 to 15 years in prison, including nearly 13 years of parole ineligibility. He pleaded guilty on March 4 to the first-degree attempted murder of Michael Cadlett.  Parker was part of a group of Gangster Killer Bloods members who shot at an SUV on Monmouth Street in Trenton on Aug. 28, 2005, resulting in the death of Voorhees, 22.  Parker and the other gunmen believed the SUV was occupied by a high-ranking member of the rival Nine Trey Gangsters. It was the wrong car. The car was driven by Cadlett, who had five passengers. One bullet struck Cadlett in the stomach, and another traveled down the street and hit Voorhees in the chest as she sat on her porch.

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