Monaud Toussaint, 29, aka “Little Damu,” of Little Egg Harbor, pleaded guilty today to first-degree conspiracy to commit murder before Superior Court Judge Mark J. Fleming in Mercer County. In pleading guilty, Toussaint admitted that he conspired with other members of the Nine Trey Gangsters to murder fellow gang member Almeen Palmer in 2006. A high-ranking gang member had ordered that Palmer be murdered for violating the rules of the gang and trying to join another Bloods set. The New Jersey State Police learned of the murder plot and, together with members of the Atlantic City Police Department, interrupted a meeting of gang members who were involved, making arrests and seizing guns.

Under the plea agreement, the state will recommend that Toussaint be sentenced to 11 years in state prison, including more than nine years of parole ineligibility. Judge Fleming scheduled sentencing for Toussaint for July 29.

Deputy Attorney General Daniel I. Bornstein took the guilty plea for the Division of Criminal Justice Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau.

Toussaint was among 48 defendants indicted in June 2007 as a result of a joint investigation by the New Jersey State Police and the Division of Criminal Justice called “Operation Nine Connect.” The Division of Criminal Justice Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau has obtained guilty pleas from all but a few of the defendants named in the indictment. One leader of the gang, Michael Smart, 31, of Irvington, was tried in January 2009, convicted and sentenced to 70 years in state prison, including 46 years of parole ineligibility. The other defendants received sentences of between five and 16 years in state prison.

The Division of Criminal Justice and New Jersey State Police were assisted in the investigation by the Newark Police Department, Irvington Police Department, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Atlantic City Police Department and Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.

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