A member of the New Jersey Grape Street Crips was sentenced today to 100 months in prison for his role in an attempted murder charged as part of a RICO conspiracy, as well as narcotics trafficking, acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
According to federal officials, Sean Hills, 29, of Newark, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo to an indictment that charged him with Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy and distribution of cocaine.
Federal officials report that Since 2015, more than 80 members of the New Jersey Grape Street Crips have been convicted federally in connection with multiple murders, attempted murders, shootings, drug trafficking, firearms charges, and witness intimidation as part of a coordinated investigation by the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and local law enforcement partners.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Hills is a long-time member of the New Jersey Grape Street Crips who has the gang’s senior hierarchy tattooed on his face. On December 15, 2012, Hills repeatedly shot Victim-1 near the area of South 14th Street and 14th Avenue, an area that Hills and other gang members were trying to take over as part of their drug-trafficking territory.
As part of the sentencing, the Court also considered a shooting Hills committed on February 1, 2013, when he shot Victim-2 numerous times. Both victims survived the attacks. Hills was additionally sentenced for separate instances of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. In addition to the prison term, Judge Arleo sentenced Hills to three years of supervised release.