Gang members admit to conspiring in drive-by shootings, heroin sales

NEWARK — Two high-ranking members of a Bloods street gang subset pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal charges in connection with a racketeering conspiracy in which they conspired to distribute heroin and murder multiple rival gang members, prosecutors said.

U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman said in a statement that 32-year-old Narik "Spaz" Wilson, and 27-year-old Emil "Diddy" Rutledge, both of Newark, were charged in a 14-count indictment for racketeering conspiracy. Both men are members of the Sex Money Murder set of the Bloods street gang that operates in Essex County, prosecutors said.

Wilson and Rutledge, admitted that from 2007 to 2011 they committed a series of violent crimes as members of the gang, in which Wilson was considered the leader, or "OG" of the subset. Wilson, prosecutors said, admitted that he worked to orchestrate the murder and attempted murders of eight rival gang members in Essex County.

As a captain, or "shot-caller" in the Sex Money Murder set, Rutledge admitted his involvement - along with others - in several shootings that Wilson ordered. The shootings injured several people and resulted in one death, authorities say.

As part of a plea deal, Rutledge admitted that, under Wilson’s direction, he and others carried out drive-by shootings of five rival gang members. Rutledge also admitted to killing another rival in a drive-by shooting.

In addition, both men pleaded guilty to charges involving a conspiracy to distribute more than a kilogram of heroin in and around Newark, authorities said.

Under the plea agreement, Wilson and Rutledge are expected be sentenced on Feb. 15, 2017 to 30 years in prison, minus time served in jail on related cases. The jail time will be followed by five years of supervised release.

Toniann Antonelli is a social content producer for NJ 101.5. She can be reached at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.