Leader And Three Members Of Violent Jamaican Drug Posse Convicted Of Engaging In A Continuing Criminal Enterprise, Narcotics Trafficking And Firearms Offenses
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 8, 2012
Following a four-week trial, a federal jury in Brooklyn today returned a verdict convicting Christopher Barret, also known as “the General,” “Mouthy” and “Solo,” the leader of the “Fatherless Crew,” a violent Jamaican “posse,” of running a continuing criminal enterprise that distributed thousands of pounds of marijuana through the U.S. mail and brandishing firearms in furtherance of his narcotics business. Three of Barret’s enforcers, Leon Scarlett, also known as “Piggy” and “Agony,” Omar Mitchell, also known as “Sox,” and Ryan Anderson, also known as “Dre,” were convicted of marijuana trafficking charges. Anderson was also convicted of carrying a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. A fifth defendant, Kareem Forrest, also known as “Dooley,” pleaded guilty after the first week of trial.

The convictions were announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Wilbert L. Plummer, Acting Special-Agent-in-Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Field Division, and Ronald J. Verrochio, Inspector-in-Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service, New York Field Office, and Raymond W. Kelly, Commissioner, New York City Police Department.

The “Fatherless Crew” was originally founded in Rema, a garrison community within inner-city Kingston, Jamaica. The crew warred with rival gangs – particularly the “Shower Posse” from neighboring Tivoli Gardens – for territory. After Barret was arrested for shooting an officer of the Jamaican Constabulary Force in Kingston, he posted bail and then promptly fled to the United States. There, Barret established a base in Queens, New York, and began recruiting soldiers from the “Fatherless Crew” in Jamaica to join his drug enterprise. Using threats and violence, Barret and his crew established a stranglehold over drug trafficking in portions of Queens – particularly the area surrounding Barret’s South Ozone Park headquarters and stash house.

Trial testimony established that on March 15, 2010, members of Barret’s crew engaged in a shootout with a rival drug gang following a baby shower in St. Albans, Queens. A dispute over a drug debt escalated into a gun battle in the streets. Detectives from the NYPD recovered more than 30 shell casings and bullets, including one bullet that ricocheted off the door of a neighboring daycare center. One individual was shot in the chest during the gunfight but survived. The government’s evidence at trial also established that Barret attempted to solicit the murder of a former partner in the crew and ordered vicious assaults of customers and workers over lost drugs and money, and that members of the crew plotted to murder potential witnesses and their family members to obstruct the government’s prosecution.

In October 2010, following a year-long investigation, a search and seizure operation at the crew’s headquarters in Queens yielded nearly 300 pounds of marijuana, three loaded handguns and a variety of drug trafficking paraphernalia, including electronic scales, heat-sealing machines and a vehicle outfitted with a with a hydraulic trap for concealing firearms.

To date, 15 members and associates of the “Fatherless Crew” have been convicted of drug trafficking and firearms offenses as a result of this investigation.

“Barret imported his brand of lawlessness from the hills of Jamaica to the streets of Queens, setting up a crew that lived by a code of violence and total disregard for the law. The defendants’ crew employed wanton violence to enrich themselves putting in mortal danger not only their competitors in the drug trafficking business, but also innocent residents in our community – including children, as well as potential witnesses and their family members. We are committed to utilizing all resources at our disposal to investigate and prosecute organized criminal enterprises who engage in narcotics distribution and street violence, stated United States Attorney Lynch. “We will not rest until our mission is accomplished.”

DEA Acting Special-Agent-in-Charge Plummer stated, “As you know, drug trafficking and violence have a symbiotic relationship, and this investigation led us to dismantle this drug trafficking organization here in New York. The NY Drug Enforcement task force worked diligently with our law enforcement partners to keep our streets safe from violent drug crews.”

Postal Inspector-in-Charge Verrochio stated, “Postal Inspectors will vigorously pursue and arrest those individuals who use the mail to transport and distribute illegal substances, putting in danger the lives of innocent residents, Postal employees and law enforcement personnel.”

NYPD Commissioner Kelly stated, “This case is an example of the relationship between drugs and violent crime, where individuals use illegal guns and battle rivals over a drug trafficking market. I want to commend the detectives, agents, and prosecutors who worked together to bring Christopher Barret aka ‘the General’ and his notorious crew to justice.”
When sentenced by United States District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto, Christopher Barret faces a minimum sentence of 27 years and a maximum sentence of life. Defendant Ryan Anderson faces a minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of life. Defendants Leon Scarlett and Omar Mitchell each face minimum sentences of 10 years and maximum sentences of life.

The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Steven L. Tiscione, Tyler J. Smith and Gina M. Parlovecchio.

The Defendants:

Name: CHRISTOPHER BARRET
Age: 45

Name: RYAN ANDERSON
Age: 31

Name: LEON SCARLETT
Age: 49

Name: OMAR MITCHELL
Age: 37

Record executive Clive Davis says he’s bisexual.

In his new memoir out Tuesday, the 80-year-old music mogul, who is twice divorced, reveals that he had sex with a man in the 1970s. Davis writes in “The Soundtrack of My Life” that he hadn’t been repressed or confused during his marriages and that sex with a man “provided welcome relief.”

Davis is the chief creative officer of Sony Music Entertainment. He writes that he’s been in a “strong monogamous relationship” with a man for the last seven years.

He also writes that he dated a man from 1990 to 2004, which he says was a “tough adjustment” for his son Mitchell. He says after “one trying year,” he and his son worked things out. Davis is the father of three children.

In a new interview with ABC’s Nightline, Davis says bisexuality is “maligned and misunderstood,” adding, “I’m not lying. Bisexuality does exist. For over 50 years I never had sex with a male. It wasn’t repressed. I had very good sexual relationships with women.”

In the book, Davis also delves into his experiences in the music industry, recounting his time with Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen, Simon & Garfunkel, Janis Joplin, Carlos Santana, the Grateful Dead and others.

He recalls speaking with Houston in the days leading up to her 2012 death, noting how the singer had said she was back on track

“Maybe I should have been more skeptical,” Davis wrote. “But I’ve always been optimistic, and I felt hopeful. It felt like old times.”

ELEPHANT MAN & BAAUER – HARLEM SHAKE http://youtu.be/RMmi_Gv5Uxk

Busy Signal – My Gal Dem http://youtu.be/tgAFwIAFMtw

No Black Nurses Lawsuit For Minority Free Child Care
Posted on: 9:18 am, February 19, 2013, by Staff Writer, updated on: 12:13pm, February 19, 2013

(CNN) – A nurse is suing a hospital, claiming it agreed to man’s request that no African-Americans care for his baby.
The lawsuit accuses managers at Hurley Medical Center in Flint of reassigning Tonya Battle, who has worked at the facility for 25 years, based on the color of her skin.
The man approached Battle, while she was caring for his child in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit, asking to speak to her supervisor, according to the complaint filed in January by Battle’s attorney.
She pointed the charge nurse in his direction.
The man, who is not named in the filing, allegedly showed her a tattoo that may have been “a swastika of some kind” and told her that he didn’t want African-Americans involved in his baby’s care.

The request, according to the lawsuit, made its way through management ranks, and was granted. Battle’s manager called her at home to tell her she would be reassigned — and why, the suit says.
She was shocked and in disbelief, her attorney Julie Gafkay told CNN affiliate WNEM. “She was very upset. She was very offended.”
The hospital did not immediately respond late Friday to a CNN request for comment.
A note made its way onto prominent spot on the baby’s medical chart, according to the suit: “Please, no African-American nurses to care for … baby per dad’s request.”
The hospital’s lawyer then objected to the decision, and the note was removed. The staff then told the father that they could no long honor his request, according to the complaint.
Even so, the lawsuits alleges, for more than a month no African American nurses were assigned to care of the child.
CNN’s Marlena Baldacci contributed to this report.
By Ben Brumfield
The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2013 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.

It was an embarrassing moment for a man who was travelling with his wife from Luanda to Majengo, Vihiga County after a prostitute confronted him demanding him to pay an outstanding debt for the services she offered him last year December.

Attracting everyone’s attention, the woman who was talking on top of her voice explained that two months had passed since she offered the services. She added that the man had been ignoring her calls and it was high time he paid the dues.

Although the man pretended to be busy speaking to his wife, who was seated next to him, the daring sex worker went on spilling the beans and moved closer to the matatu demanding for the money.

This forced the man’s wife to intervene asking the husband for an explanation regarding the whole saga. The man who was tongue tied tried mumbling some words but before he could speak out the wife demanded that the driver stops the matatu so that they could solve the issue.

The wife who was fuming with rage explained to the passengers how the husband has been mistreating her and the children and even denying her conjugal rights. She asked him to choose between the two.

What a shame!