TRENTON — Michael Anderson acted like the Godfather, authorities say. Known as Red Eyes to his crew, Anderson allegedly led a statewide faction of the Bloods street gang, directing drug sales and the promotion of subordinates. If a gang member rebelled, authorities say, Anderson would pick up a phone and issue an order for discipline. And he did all...
Michael AndersonTRENTON — Michael Anderson acted like the Godfather, authorities say.
Known as Red Eyes to his crew, Anderson allegedly led a statewide faction of the Bloods street gang, directing drug sales and the promotion of subordinates. If a gang member rebelled, authorities say, Anderson would pick up a phone and issue an order for discipline.
And he did all this from behind bars, authorities say.
A state grand jury indicted the 38-year-old Anderson and 18 associates and members of the Nine Trey Headbustas gang on 42 counts Thursday, including racketeering, weapons offenses, drug trafficking and murder, state Attorney General Paula Dow said.
The list of charges describes a violent and far-flung network of individuals who sold drugs around the state and exacted revenge against witnesses and rival gang members.
Three suspects — Syree Hakins, 38, of West Orange, Tyrane Mathis, 34, of Newark, and Davon Parker, 22, of Edison — are accused in the killing of Devin Thompson in New Brunswick in June 2008. Thompson, father of a seven-month-old son, was gunned down and Christopher Whittsett was wounded, near the city’s Recreation Park. At the time, police did not give a reason for the killing.
Currently serving a sentence at Trenton State Prison for death by auto and eluding the police, Anderson has been a repeated target of the state’s investigations.
Last week, he pleaded guilty to a separate charge of leading a drug trafficking network in Camden, Dow said.
Thursday's indictment stems from a three-year investigation, dubbed "Operation Hardhat," and run by several agencies, including the New Jersey State Police and the state Department of Corrections.
Anderson’s indictment comes as officials attempt to ramp up efforts against gang networks in state prisons.
In August, David "Duke" Allen, the leader of another Bloods faction, earned additional time in prison after he was accused of trying to lead his gang from behind bars, said Stephen Taylor, the head of the Division of Criminal Justice.
The indictment includes first-, second- and third-degree crimes and carry a maximum sentence of 30 years in state prison.
The indictment was handed to Superior Court Judge Linda R. Feinberg, who assigned the case to Hudson County.