A member of the Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips gang has admitted to participating in a racketeering conspiracy, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna. Jason Franklin, also known as "Freak," pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton to charges under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.
Court documents and statements revealed that from around 2015 until September 22, 2022, Franklin was involved with the Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips. The gang engaged in violent acts and distributed controlled substances across New Jersey and beyond. Franklin held a leadership position within the group, directing members to commit violent acts.
One incident highlighted occurred on March 20, 2019, when Franklin ordered the murder of an individual in Irvington, New Jersey, as retaliation for the killing of a fellow gang member. Another instance took place in early April 2021 when he instructed associates to retaliate against rival gang members, leading to an attempted murder on April 5, which resulted in serious injury.
Franklin faces a maximum life sentence and a fine up to $250,000. Sentencing is set for May 21, 2025.
Acting U.S. Attorney Khanna credited several agencies for their roles in the investigation: DEA special agents led by Cheryl Ortiz; IRS-CI under Jenifer Piovesan; ATF directed by L.C. Cheeks Jr.; U.S. Marshals Service under Juan Mattos; Irvington Police Department led by Tracy Bowers; Essex County Prosecutor’s Office directed by Theodore N. Stephens II; FBI led by Brian J. Discroll Jr.; Newark Police Department headed by Emanuel Miranda Sr.; Bloomfield Police Department directed by Samuel A. DeMaio; Essex County Sheriff’s Office under Amir D. Jones; East Orange Police Department led by Phyllis L. Bindi; Elizabeth Police Department directed by Earl J. Graves; Edison Police Department headed by Tom Bryan; New Jersey State Police led by Patrick J. Callahan; Union County Prosecutor’s Office directed by William A. Daniel; Spotswood Police Department headed by Philip Corbisiero; and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation Fugitive and Missing Person Task Force including FBI members.
The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation aimed at dismantling high-level criminal organizations threatening the United States through a multi-agency approach.
This investigation was conducted under the Newark Violent Crime Initiative (VCI), established in August 2017 to combat violent crime around Newark through collaboration among federal, state, county, and city agencies.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Francesca Liquori and Jake A. Nasar.
Defense counsel includes Anthony Iacullo and Michael Koribanics.