Hell Up in Harlem - Crack Era PDF

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10th Anniversary
STREET STORIES HELL NEW
UP YORK
6 IN HARLEM
CHIGAGO
WORDS BY D O N D I VA
HELL UP DETROIT
IN HARL For almost a decade, rumors and

speculation have been the source of
information regarding Harlem’s infamous
and notorious underworld. Stories have
been told and movies like “Paid in Full”
by Roc-a-Fella Records have been filmed
but Don Diva Magazine has put together
the most accurate account to date of the
fall of Harlem’s Underworld. This article
has been compiled from various law
enforcement documents, confidential
informers, defendants turned informers,
court transcripts and FBI files. No where
will you find a more true to life and
factual account of what went down
in Harlem.
Rest In Peace 5-2 0-1 977 TO 12-
05- 198 9
NE LL ” PO RT ER
WI LL IA M “D ON 6-1 965 TO 01- 04- 199 0
ER 7-2
RI CH AR D PO RT
44 D O N D I V A M A G A Z I N E www.dondivamag.com / Volume.11, Issue: 40 - 10 th Anniversary 1-877-366-3482
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mutually agreeable terms on where Donnell would be exchanged for the

DECEMBER 5, 1989
Twelve-year-old Donnell Porter was walking to school alone on a Harlem
ransom could not be arranged.
A Porter family friend entered the Mcdonald’s rest-room; he moved
street, when a van "screeches" to a stop next to him. A man wearing a cautiously, checking the stalls to make sure that no one jumped out on
mask and gloves jumped out of the van and grabbed Donnell while the him. He noticed a coffee can under one of the sinks and he moved slow-
driver, who was also masked, opened the van door from inside. Donnell ly toward it. The unidentified man picked the can up and looked inside
was thrown into the van and the masked man jumped in after him and of it, he was horrified as he stared into the can in disbelief. Inside the
the van sped off. can was the severed pinkie finger of little Donnell Porter with a ring on it
Later that afternoon Donnell’s sister Patricia Porter received a phone baring the initials, D.P. accompanied by a cassette tape.
call from a man stating Donnell had been kid- Later that night Patricia Porter, Donnell’s older sister, contacted the
napped and was being held for $500,000.00 FBI. The FBI told Pat to contact her local precinct. Later that
UP
and that he would be killed if the police were evening Patricia Porter was interviewed by a detective in the 32nd
notified or the ransom not paid. precinct, she pointed to the can on the table and handed the cassette
tape to the detective.
The last call was received at approximately 9 o’clock on the evening of
DECEMBER 6, 1989
A second call was made and t he ransom
the December 6, 1989. Once the police were notified, the kidnappers
did not contact the family again. The family told the police that they did-
was lowered to $350,000.00. n’t know who would do this, the police had very little to go on.
The man on the phone spoke nervously as At the station, detectives working the case placed the tape in a play-
he demanded the money and instructed the er. On it they hear Donnell crying as he says, “They ‘cutted’ my fin-
family to go to the rest-room of the McDonalds at ger off. They said if you don’t do as they say they are going to cut my
hand off. Please help. I love you mommy.” The
recording made investigators realize that the kid-
LEM
nappers were desperate and brutal–the cops
knew their time was short.
The investigators already had a file on the victims
brother Richard "Richie Rich" Porter, a major local
drug dealer. The investigators concluded that
Donnell’s being kidnapped and a ransom of
$500,000.00 being demanded from a relatively poor
family from Harlem was tied to Richard’s involvement
in the drug trade. They stated it would be a tough
case and that Donnell’s chances of living diminished
as each hour passed.
125th street on Broadway in Manhattan. He told them to look under the

sink, "There’s something there that will show you just how serious me
DECEMBER 7, 1989
Two detectives pull up to the corner of 132nd street off of 7th avenue
and my people are." The family is warned again not to involve the police, (Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard) where Richard Porter and Alberto
the caller states that he’ll "be in touch" then he hangs up the phone. "Alpo" Martinez are talking. They begin to question the two. After both
It is believed that several phone calls were made to Richard Porter, their identities are verified Alpo is allowed to leave. The detectives asked
Donnell’s older brother–an alleged Harlem cocaine Kingpin. Apparently, Richard to come in to the precinct to talk to them. He reluctantly agrees
Rip / Rich and Donnell porter / A young life cut short / And no I don’t think it’s fair. / A good
son / A good man / Did the world have so many, we had one to spare? / A good brother / A good
friend / There was so much more he could have been. / So much promise in his eyes / So many dreans I
had for him will never be never realized. / So much to so many / Partner, man , lover, friend / He was
my son / I gave him life, raised him and buried him. / My pain will never end / As I sit and write
these words, I cry / Because I’ve had to write them twice / I’ve lost not one but two sons to this life / So
many using his name to capitalize / Next time you shout his name / Please remember my pain / To me
he was more than just a pawn in the GAME / Next time you Glorify the “HIM” you thought you
knew / Please think of me / Let’s Have Some Silence so my babies can rest in peace.
D O N D I V A M A G A Z I N E 45
10th Anniversary
STREET STORIES HELL UP
6 IN HARLEM
and gets into the car with the detectives.
The detectives interviewed Richard at the 32nd precinct on 135th street Donnell Porter
between 7th (Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard) and 8th (Frederick
Douglas Boulevard) Avenues.
The detectives allegedly told Richard that they know that he is a "major
drug lord." They tell him that they would like for him to "co-operate" with
them so that they can get Donnell back. Richard stated that he had no
idea what was going on or who would do something like this. Finally,
Richard announced he was leaving and promptly does so. Richard deny-
ing that he knew anything frustrated the detectives. Time was running out.
The family received a note that read, “We still want money, the child
(Donnell) is in pain and needs medical assistance.” No more calls were
dealers Richard owed money to, I don’t know; maybe it was Alpo or John-
John or Lou from 142nd street, maybe it was "Preacher". But after bring-
ing in several individuals on mostly petty charges the police were still no
closer to figuring out the case than they were from the first day.
JANUARY 28TH 1990

Less than a month after Richard’s murder another body is found in the
same Bronx park. It was the body of a small Black male, frozen and
wrapped in more than a dozen plastic bags. Investigators noticed right
made and investigators tried for weeks to get a lead on the kidnapping, away that the child was missing a finger.
nothing came.
JANUARY 4TH 1990 JANUARY 29TH 1990

Nearly a month after Donnell’s kidnapping Richard Porter’s body is found The Porter family is notified that a body fitting Donnell’s description had
in Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx. He’d been shot in the head and chest. been found and that they needed to come down to identify the remains.
He still had his jewelry and a few thousand dollars in cash on him so rob- Donnell’s family identified him at the morgue. The medical examiner (M.E.)
bery was immediately ruled out. This further frustrated the detectives, they determined that the boy was killed by blunt force trauma to the head, the
knew now that Richard was dead that Donnell surely wouldn’t be returned. kidnappers had smashed Donnell’s small skull. The M.E. had also deter-
The detectives hit the street harder now pulling in anybody associated mined that Donnell was alive when his finger was cut off. The M.E. could
with Richard Porter. There were several arrests made and all the people not determine whether the body was kept in a freezer or if it had frozen
arrested were questioned about the murder of Richard and the kidnapping from the extremely cold weather.
of Donnell. At this point NYPD detectives as well as a special task force called C-
An informant, threatened with being taken down for the distribution of 11 squad–a FBI task force involving different law enforcement agen-
narcotics, began to talk. He states, "Maybe it was one of the big drug cies–was "running the show".

JUNE 1990
Nathaniel "Nut" Watkins (first cousin of Richard Porter) is arrested in
Washington D.C. with little drugs and little cash and a pocket full of pawn
tickets. He was charged as a "King Pin".
C-11 was notified of Nut’s arrest because Nut was a known associate
of Richard Porter and Alberto Martinez.
Agents from C-11 went to D.C. to interview Nut who at this point was
facing a sentence of 20 years to life in prison. Upon meeting with Nut the
agents explained how they would "help" him if he were willing to “co-oper-
ate" with the government. Nut agreed, he told the agents that he received
drugs from Alpo and distributed them in DC (Don Diva investigated these
allegations and found contradictions to Nut’s claims.)
That information allowed the FBI to hit Alpo with a federal
conspiracy charge.
FBI agents in Washington DC joined the investigation at that point. A
confidential informant told federal agents Alpo’s whereabouts and con-
nected several unsolved murders in DC to Alpo. Federal agents received
information that Alpo lived in an apartment complex with his wife. After
several days of stakeouts off and on at Alpo’s wife’s house, the FBI spot-
ted Alpo. When they arrested him in the car with his wife, they found drugs
and money.
Alpo was first charged with drug conspiracy and money laundering.
Later in a superseding indictment, the FBI added five murders. He was a
major prize, a "big man" in the Harlem drug trade. He knew the prosecu-
tion would be successful and decided to "co-operate".
Investigators in New York debriefed Alpo. Among other murders, he
admitted to killing his former partner Richard Porter in a van then dump-
ing his body. Alpo stated that Terrell shot Richard Porter in the chest
first and then he (Alpo) shot him in the head. When investigators asked
Alpo about the kidnap and murder of Donnell Porter, he denied having
any involvement.
Another case that the FBI was working on involved the 142nd Street
Lynch Mob. Agents had come in contact with individuals looking to help
themselves. These individuals were
giving information on the Preacher
crew, the FBI’s "real target", the top
of the pyramid.
On an unspecified date, a meeting was called in connection to the drug Investigators found their case
trade in Harlem. The case agent took the floor and reviewed the major moving very slowly because most
players in Harlem, referring to a chart set up like a hierarchy or "pyramid". people refused to talk about the
Alberto "Alpo" Martinez, The 142nd Street Lynch Mob: Leon Brown, Louis "Black Hand". The agents and
Simms and several subordinate members. Clarence "Preacher" Heatley detectives of C-11 knew that they
ran Preacher’s crew (sometimes known as the "Black Hand") along with needed to somehow get inside of
his associate John "Big Cuz" Cuff–a former police officer. There were also that crew in order to break them.
several underlings in this crew. The pyramid showed crews and blocks. C-11 found an opening when one
But the information on most of the main subjects of Preacher’s main men got scared
was vague. Alberto “Alpo” Martinez and went to the FBI for help
The objective of C-11 was to slowly work their
way through the crew’s ranks, to begin at the
lower levels and place "flags" (identifying marks)
on all known crew associates, and it was estab-
lished that if any crew members were picked up
APRIL 4TH 1990
anywhere, C-11 would be notified. Former Preacher crewmember, Larry Jones contacted the FBI. He said his
life was in danger. He agreed to "co-operate" if federal agents would pro-
Rich Porter tect him from Preacher and his crew. Jones provided investigators with
10th Anniversary
6 IN HARLEM
their first insider information. He told investigators where Jones escaped and Preacher and his men were
the crew held their meetings, how Preacher ran his organ- Big Cuff arrested for reckless endangerment. In Preacher’s
ization, and what he did to people when he felt that he car was a rope, a knife and Larry Jones’ license plate
had been crossed. number written on a piece of paper.
Jones explained the voting "ceremony" that was held Preacher was finally in custody, but the agents were
whenever a crewmember began to distrust another. In further frustrated when Preacher and his men had to
this ceremony, if the majority voted "thumbs down" be released. It seems no one could prove that they
Preacher ordered them killed. were there to kill Jones.
C-11 continued its investigation of the drug trade
in Harlem. They busted known buyers and sellers and
pressured them to roll. During an interrogation of one
MARCH 1994 of the dealers busted, investigators were told what
had happened to Sheila Berry, the daughter of a cor-
A crewmember named Maalik came up for a vote. He got thumbs down rection official. The dealer provided the information hoping to receive
and Preacher ordered his murder. leniency on his behalf.
Jones told investigators that Maalik went into hiding in Georgia because Sheila Berry had been reported missing by her family in January of 1995.
the investigation on him and the others was getting too hot. When The dealer said Sheila had become addicted to crack and ran errands
Preacher decided he (Maalik) was too much of a threat to the crew he for Preacher’s crew in exchange for that drug. The dealer also said that
lured Maalik back to their headquarters by telling him they had a problem Sheila was sent to pick up drugs from a supplier and deliver them to Big
and he (Preacher) needed to speak with him. When Maalik arrived he was Cuz Cuff. Cuff decided he
made to feel comfortable. He had no idea what was about to happen to didn’t want to pay the sup-
him. Maalik and the others were told to go down to the basement because plier and told the man
there was business to take care of. John "Big Cuz" Cuff was waiting in Sheila had run off with the
the basement. drugs. To cover his lie Cuff
Preacher explained why Maalik was being killed despite their former and his men decided to get
friends’ protests. Once Maalik was dead, Preacher ordered him rid of Sheila Berry. Cuff put
dismembered. out the word that she had
Jones tells the investigators he and another crewmember were given the stolen from Preacher’s
job of disposing of the body parts. Jones gave explicit details of the crew, killing her would be a
process: acid was poured on Maalik’s arms to remove tattoos that could lesson to others that might
possibly be used to identify him thereby linking him back to the crew. think of crossing them.
The severed limbs were then left in a crumbling abandoned building. The informant tried to
Jones told investigators that after seeing what happened to Maalik he real- direct the agents to where
ized that the same thing could happen to him. That realization led him to John “Apple” Porter & Rich Porter Sheila’s body had been
the FBI and the protection of C-11. dumped but his information
Agents of C-11 stated in documents that one day they almost lost was vague.
Larry Jones. C-11 investigators continued to watch the crew, logging their activities
Larry Jones was leaving a Manhattan courthouse on 100 Centre Street; and contacts around the clock, during that time investigators noted unrest
he was there for another case. On his way out of the courthouse, Jones within the crew. C-11 investigators stated the pressure was getting to
spotted Preacher and some of his crew. Because the area around the Preacher as well. Thinking everyone was out to get him he began to
courthouse is heavily patrolled by all kinds of law enforcement Jones was appear paranoid.
able to get to his car. Once inside his car Jones drove off and was fol- While listening to a wiretap, the investigators were able to hear
lowed by Preacher’s car. The two cars drove down a one-way street the Preacher order his main lieutenant John Cuff killed. As soon as the
wrong way, (It wasn’t a high-speed chase) forcing other cars to the side. agents heard this, they knew that Cuff had to be told. Agents sat
As Preacher continued to follow Jones the investigators were racing to his across the street from Cuff’s house in a parked car. When Cuff exited
location. They arrived within moments with two cars, informed by Jones as his house, he was approached by the agents and told of the hit Preacher
to the route of his vehicle and the pursuing vehicle were taking. It was at had ordered on his life.
a stoplight that the agents made their move. They converged on Cuff smiled, shrugged his shoulders, and said there were lots of people
Preacher’s car from everywhere. that wanted to kill him.

likely not be paid now. Preacher tells Apple that Donnell saw their faces
AUGUST OF 1996 therefore he would have to die–ransom or not. Apple told the investiga-
tors that it was Maalik who actually killed Donnell as well as being the one
Agents of C-11 and the US attorney on the case met. They were review- that cut his pinkie off. But Maalik was already dead by this time so there
ing the case, outlining the crew, their enterprise, and their crimes. At the was no way to verify this. John "Apple" Porter went to prison for life.
end of their meeting the US attorney agrees that they have enough and There were still crew members on the street that C-11 wanted to
should make the arrests. take down.
Finally, after more than five years of meticulous investigation the US attor-
ney’s office of the Southern District of New York decided there was suffi-
cient evidence for an indictment and arrests on a Federal RICO charge
(Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations).
The first indictment listed Clarence "Preacher" Heatley and John
NOVEMBER 1996
"Big Cuz" Cuff. The plan was to bring Preacher in first, they figured if Fifteen more members of Preacher’s crew were indicted. Federal arrest
they started with anyone else, Preacher would be warned and they teams fanned out all over the city but four of the men could not be found.
might lose him forever. Once everyone else was in custody they started talking.
Three arrest teams were set up in three separate locations. The inves- They gave the agents the address where bodies had been dumped,
tigators weren’t sure where the Preacher was. Finally, the team waiting including Sheila Berry’s and Maalik’s. Several technicians wearing haz-
outside of Preacher’s Grand Concourse headquarters in the Bronx saw ardous material suits sifted through a ton of crumbled building for days
him emerge from the house. The investigators main target seemed to be before they found something, the medical examiner would later identify it
alone, but with a man like Preacher caution had to be taken, the agents to be the body of Sheila Berry. This evidence was necessary to support
stated. The investigators waited until they could be sure Preacher wasn’t
being guarded and was alone. They approached the drug lord, identified
themselves, and took him into custody. Clarence “Preacher” Heatley
Agents said that Preacher–always calm–barely reacted. The team
radioed in their catch. The other arrest team captured Big Cuz Cuff with-
out incident as well. Now the two main players were in custody, but the
case was far from over.
C-11 and the US attorney met again. The US attorney stated the case
still required hundreds more man-hours. The US attorney was still not sat-
isfied that they had the crew solid. Neither C-11 nor the US attorney was
clear on what had happened to Donnell Porter.
They needed to get John "Apple" Porter–a known associate of the
Preacher crew–in custody to complete the sweep.
They (C-11 and US attorney) persuaded "Apple" to meet with them.
The US attorney explained to Apple Porter that as a major member of the
crew, his not being in custody would likely have him labeled as a "snitch".
Apple felt even with the Preacher and Big Cuz locked up this would still
be a death sentence. Apple stated that he barely survived an earlier
attempt on his life by some other members of Preacher’s crew. Realizing
he would eventually be killed if not placed under federal protection Apple
Porter decided to "co-operate". Apple confessed to five murders and told
investigators what happened to Donnell Porter his nephew.
Apple told investigators that he and Maalik put on mask and gloves
and abducted Donnell on his way to school. Apple states that Maalik the testimonies of the confidential informants or CI’s.
jumped out of the van grabbed the child and threw him into the van. The arrested members of Preacher’s crew explained to investigators
They brought Donnell to a building controlled by the crew. After unsuc- how they were ordered to scrub the "killing room" down with boric acid
cessfully attempting to negotiate Donnell’s release they decided that after each murder. After securing a search warrant, crime scene techni-
they needed to show Richard Porter how serious they were so they cut cians processed the basement of 108 Bradhurst Avenue in Harlem. They
off the little boy’s finger. Then they taped the message from Donnell and found that Preacher’s men did an excellent job with their clean up. They
called Apple’s niece Pat Porter. had completely cleaned everything… but they apparently didn’t do win-
Apple told investigators that he wanted to take what his nephew dows. Although the room had been meticulously cleaned blood splatters
Richard Porter had built (referring to his major drug empire) while he were identified on the windows.
(Apple) was in prison. Apple said Richard wouldn’t allow him to be a part Fourteen gang members went to prison and more than 50 murders
of his operation. Apple promised Preacher half of the ransom, then investigations were closed.
Preacher and Apple agreed to kidnap Donnell. John "Big Cuzz" Cuff went to prison for life as did Clarence
Apple also said that when he was made aware that Richard had been "Preacher" Heatley aka "The Black Hand of Death". There is no parole
killed, he talked to Preacher and they both realized the ransom would most in federal prison.
We had a 4 page, 4 count indictment. in exchange for leniency. There can be no doubt that during the
Serious but not unbeatable. I was sent to course of these discussions Clarence Heatley provided the govern-
the box [solitary confinement], the other ment with detailed information about the commission of crimes,
guy [Preacher] was housed on the 7th floor including numerous murders, and the structure of an “organization”
in general population where he really which provides the foundation for the government’s theory of the
made his move with his lawyer and partic- case. It has even been alleged that Mr. Heatley provided information
ipated in 5 days of proffer [volunteer] ses- to law enforcement which allowed them to protect a police officer
sions, August 21, 23, 27, 28, and 30 of 1996. whose life was allegedly in danger. This court can readily anticipate
Then going on visits with his daughter and the following; if convicted of capitol murder, Mr. Heatley will claim,
girlfriend trying to convince his son to turn during his penalty trial, that he should be spared the death penalty, in
himself in- but all along crossing each and part because he cooperated fully with the authorities after his arrest
everyone of them! and provided truthful information about the activities of his cohorts,
While this was going on I was in the box, going on lawyer visits and
family visits from the box basically holding my nuts but keeping my
mouth shut!!
Then his godson D.H. came- yes the same person from the Anthony
Jones case in Baltimore, yeah D.H. a multi-state, multi-platinum, rat
coward showed up in court after he was banished out of NYC 2-years
earlier. Between those two, the godfather [was] coaching the godson
on how to lie on people. I guess we’re lucky NY, NY, PA, MD and
Georgia still have a population. NC too! But a seeping 47 count, 85
page indictment was handed down and on November 21, 1996 the
T.V. and radio ‘amped’ our case publicly. The [Preacher’s] daughter,
[Preacher’s] girlfriend, [Preacher’s] son, me and 18 of us were sitting
in Manhattan Federal Court, sick with that indictment in our hands. John Cuff
Orange suits and blue shoes, wondering what happened. 60 agents
and NYPD [were] clapping [and] laughing at us. We all knew what
happened, he [Preacher] “went platinum” but his godson when 4x including codefendant John Cuff. He will argue to the jury that he
platinum. He was resented by the government so much he talked us came forward VOLUNTARILY, that he had no obligation to do so, and
on to the death penalty statute—real smart! To go a step further, in that he was offered nothing in return for providing substantial cooper-
desperation he and his lawyers wrote a motion on March 25, 1997 to ation with the authorities. He will emphasize the lengthy nature of the
compel the courts to give him an evidentiary hearing which was held proffer sessions, the fact that he implicated himself as well as others
December 2nd to the 5th in 1997. 558 pages of lawyers and prose- in criminal behavior, and may well have saved the life of a New York
cutors arguing the “great things” he said about others since 1984 police officer. By contrast, the jury will hear no such evidence with
and why he should or shouldn’t get a deal. The ruling by our judge: regard to John Cuff. Mr. Cuff participated in NO PROFFER SES-
you get nada, shut-up and go to trial if you want to! SIONS, made no statements to the police regarding the allegations
for which he was eventually indicted. AND HAS NOT IMPLICATED
EITHER HIMSELF OR ANYONE ELSE by way of providing direct
information to law enforcement. In short, John Cuff has exercised his
YOU KNEW BETTER rights under the fifth amendment.
THAN TO TRY TO OUT February 1, 1999, 3 weeks before trial with 3 codefendants out of
about 20, 71 new crimes were brought against us and 37 which
SNAKE A BIGGER SNAKE! named me, crimes of a very serious nature- unbelievable.
During the first 22 months of this case I did Nevertheless I kept a straight face with a capitol death case looming
it in the box, but I kept my mouth shut over my head. On March 20, 1999 I wore mine and some others also.
through and through. I exercised my 5th Like a fresh baldy, a new butter soft (leather jacket) [and] Gortex
amendment rights, I made NO STATE- boots and jewels, that was my choice. I am who I am – “Headbanger”,
MENTS, PARTICIPATED IN NO PROFFER “Badboy”, “Villian”! I got no person arrested or indicted, none of that
SESSIONS, NEVER IMPLICATED MYSELF shit. I was sentenced to LIFE plus 145 years on June 29, 1999 and
OR OTHERS BY WAY OF PROVIDING ANY I’m still wearing mine like a trooper.
INFORMATION TO LAW ENFORCEMENT!!! All those who jumped ship to the prosecutor’s office, you knew
what this was about from day one, you didn’t get drafted- you volun-
Excerpts from pages 7-9 of the Death Penalty motion: This court is teered to be in the family. Stop all the cryin’ about being called a Rat!
well aware, from extensive pretrial submissions and testimony, that
codefendant Clarence Heatley engaged in lengthy and detailed prof- A FISH WOULDN’T GET CAUGHT IF HE KEPT HIS MOUTH SHUT!
fer sessions with the government in an effort to tender his cooperation _JOHN CUFF
10th Anniversary
6 IN HARLEM
DC’S NOTORIOUS
WAYNE PERRY SPEAKS
My reason for pleading out loud is to further express
and apprise you of two perfidious and pusillanimous, cold
blooded bitches and snitches named Alberto Martinez aka
I
Alpo and Jerome Kerney.
I am a victim of circumstance as well as a Please receive this article as a wake up call to us so called African
scape goat, for a rat, snitch, liar, fuck boy, Americans and specifically those who play the game. Cowards like
who had no guts, morals, principles or Alpo are not to be looked up to as honorable. He betrayed the game in
compassion for anyone other than them- many ways. No rat or betrayer can ever be honorable. For those in the
selves. I was Alpo’s sacrifice – me and oth- game know that I am a man that believes in death before dishonor as
ers. He used us to save his own ass from a well as kill or be killed. I’m no Angel. I didn’t fall down from heaven, but
35 year sentence. He made false state- I surely came up from HELL and if I’m ever offered to betray the life I
ments, told countless lies that got me five live I would rather spend the rest of my life in jail.
consecutive life sentences. I was facing the The only thing I would do different if I could do it all over again; even
death penalty and believe me Alpo did if I knew I would cause me life in the pen, I would have put a least 7
everything in his power to get me executed shells in a head that deserved it. My biggest mistake was that I trusted
by the feds. (GOVERNMENT) a half-rat, half-snake and I’m a victim to his master plan.
I would like to give honor and love to my family who has given me
Why do I want to further apprise you of this rat, Alpo? Because recent- mental and emotional support throughout my struggle and has contin-
ly he has been getting praised and respected as if he’s an honorable ued to be supportive. Also I want to send my love and undying respect
man that has principals. My question to all those who have been prais- to all of DC, my comrades Lop, Salles, Marky, Sigidi, Opio, Shaka, Kito,
ing and glamorizing this coward and snitch is this; How can you con- Davante, Wildman, Baby E, Big Green, Big Willie, Ashanti, Khalif, Joe,
sciously and intently give a known rat, liar and coward, that would sell- Dave, Drac, Big B, LH, Pat, Cool, Chocolate, Amar, Titus, Tone, TH-
out his own flesh and blood in order to salvage himself a conduit or El,Bruce-El, Jerry, Nut, Tony-O, Mink, Go, Johnny, Sop Sop, Vamp, Mo
forum to speak and voice his opinion as if he was an honorable or prin- Tiny and to all true men and women, warriors and warriorettes in the
cipled man? belly of the beast and in all our ghettos.
What has the game come to? When has it been right to praise or
accept rats, liars and traitors? NEVER! Even the government that pros- Hated by many, Liked by few, Respected by ALL!
ecuted me, as hypocritical, oppressive and corrupt as it is, despises W A R R I O R W AY N E P E R R Y- E L A K A S I L K
those that defect or betray, for they reject and punish their own traitors United States Penitentiary-Florence
for treason.
I maintain that this criminal justice system is corrupt and that these so
called African American men are its prey. If we black people of this soci-
ety will open up our eyes we can make this society a better place for
us. But our own kind keeps aiding and assisting the problem instead of
fighting the problem.

10th Anniversary
6 IN HARLEM
RICH PORTER’S MOTHER

BREAKS HER SILENCE
F
An Open Letter To Alpo
First let me start by saying that I am

deeply saddened by the manner in which
you portrayed my son, when in fact in your
heart you knew what you said was untrue.
It is easy to try and vilify the dead when
the dead has no advocate to counter the
claims against them. You were sadly mis-
taken though…as long as the breath of life
remains in my mouth I will always be that
advocate that my son’s spirit cries out for
in his shallow grave.
From the birth of the union between you and my beloved son, I knew
that you would be the Judas, who would betray his name, love, friend-
ship, and honor. I can understand to some degree because you have
always tried to emulate my son and walk in his shadows. You were
feared but my son was loved. He was revered, while you were detest-
ed. I also understand because of your need to justify your own less than
noble actions, you have chosen the narrow
path of shifting animosity and disdain on oth- You have set a dangerous precedent that
ers to dim the lights of some of your most “ Your statements have should not be emulated in any regard. You
atrocious crimes against the ones that loved have tried to convince the masses in the
you the most. “A coward dies a thousand made you an open target streets that snitching is cool and passé. You
times, a soldier dies but once.” call it “Doing Po.” I call It plain, ole fashion
Your spirit is trying to recover from the fact for criticism. You should telling. Those that will compromise their man-
that you have snitched on the ones who have hood by giving you the time of day when you
shown you a degree of love unparalleled. You have left the issue in the come home will only testify to their own weak-
admitted to snitching on your most prize con- nesses. You may have put fear in most, but
fidant in D.C., Wayne Perry. That must have wind to blow away, but real men will see you for who you really are; a
ripped his soul apart more than any sentence no good, double crossing parrot who tried to
that could have ever been imposed on him. it
is said that Wayne Perry was so hurt during
you decided to harness it” walk in my son’s regal shadow and could
never quite attain the grandeur that my son
his indictment he didn’t even try to deny the attained.
accusations because he couldn’t believe that the very man who he Your statements have made you an open target for criticism. You
tried to keep alive, at all cost, was trying to kill him via a lengthy should have left the issue in the wind to blow away, but you decided to
prison sentence. You also admitted to killing your friend Gary in a harness it like the bridle of a horse. The more you speak ill of a man that
fashion unfit for the most profound of enemies. With friends like you is not here to defend himself, the more you appear to be the envious,
who needs enemies. deceitful amoral individual the world has known you to be all along. The

sad part about this whole ordeal for me is the fact that I have loved you
like a son and to some degree I still do. A mother can never stop loving
a son, even when there is opposition and strife between her two sons.
Richard was a man before his time. He was a movement that came from
the ashes of the Ghetto and transcended into something bigger than life
itself. The protégé will always harbor hostilities towards his guide, because
it is that guide that commands the attention without even trying. You will
soon realize that you can never be Rich. Rich couldn’t be Rich! The streets
made and ordained him the Prince of the streets. He was only conforming
to the natural inclination of his nature. A Rich Porter only graces the pages
of time once in a thousand years, so I doubt you or I will see the likes of a
man, father, confidant, brother and philanthropist like Rich Again.
While writing this letter Rich came to me in a moment of inspiration.
He revealed to me that the reason you are vilifying him is because you
needed a way to justify killing him for those 30 kilos. Of course you
couldn’t say “I killed him for greed.” You had to make the streets accept
it with a seemingly legitimate claim or allegation. The streets don’t lie
and they see right through you. His spirit is at rest knowing that he loved
you more than a friend could ever love another friend; he and I both. We
accepted you as blood of my blood, flesh of my flesh. Can you live with
yourself? I guess you can, your just “Doing Po,” right? When you prac-
tice deceit long enough you begin to believe it. The truth becomes lies
and lies become the truth.
Your son will grow up knowing you through your words as being the
biggest rat and disloyal friend that have ever walked the streets!
Thanks to you, people will snitch and call it “Doing Them.” They will
reason, “if Alpo did it than it must be all right to do.” This couldn’t further
from the truth. You have admitted to double crossing, double dealing,
treachery, trickery, deceit, disloyalty, envy and a host of other things and
you think the streets will respect you for that? The streets are smarter
than you think.
All in all, I have learned to see you for who you really are and not allow
the hate to stop me from being me. Rich Porter will always live on. his
name is untainted. AZ summed it up well when he said, “When you killed
Rich, you not only killed Rich, you killed Harlem.” Harlem and all the other
Harlems across America will never forgive you for that. The verdict is
out…GUILTY. The jurors are Michael Fray, Rich Gary, Wayne Perry and
the countless other you have killed out of jealousy and snitched on out
of pure desire to avoid pain and punishment. The irony is the very sen-
tence you imposed on my son was the very thing you were afraid of the
most. (DEATH) That is why you snitched…to save your own wretched
life; but in saving it – you lost it.
_VELMA PORTER
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live to Die
NOTORIOUS HITMAN
WAYNE PERRY WORDS BY : EYONE AND SOUL MAN EDITED BY TIFFANY CHILES
Digital-Illustration by Leroy Champaign for (Outhauscreative.com)
46 D O N D I V A M A G A Z I N E WWW.DONDIVAMAG.COM / VOLUME.7 ISSUE 30 1-877-366-3482

NY
: NOTORIOUS HITMAN :
In the 8 years we have been publishing Don Diva Magazine and featuring infamous
black gangsters, Wayne "Silk" Perry from Washington DC, known as the as the
notorious enforcer for the Alberto "Alpo" Martinez Drug Organization has been our
most requested interview subject. We've received calls, emails and letters from inter-
ested readers that wanted to hear directly from the notorious Wayne Perry.
Allegedly one of the most heinous murders in Washington, DC, Perry has never
spoken to another media source in such a candid manner. According to police, Perry
was infamous for his willingness to kill at will- in broad day light, up close and per-
sonal, in front of the police- it didn't matter if you were on Perry's hit list you could
be killed anywhere in front of anyone. There was nowhere to hide- it is alleged that
Perry would lay in wait for his prey all night until he got his opportunity to strike.
Murder, robbery, drug dealing and extortion were said to be his business and he took
it seriously.
There are many stories circulating about how cers. When he is allowed visitors from his small Bureau of Prison
Wayne Perry was the enforcer and body guard for approved visitors list it is conducted through glass with no physical
contact. Perry has no phone privileges and his mail is under severe
Harlem drug dealer, Alberto "Alpo" Martinez
scrutiny and often rejected. Under these restrictions, we have been
whom became a federal informant. This story was putting this story together. We have given you a brief glimpse over the
brought to national attention when, music execu- years into the mind of Wayne "Silk" Perry, now Don Diva gets inside
tive, Damon Dash produced the movie Paid In the mind of an admitted killer.
DON DIVA: Why have you waited so long to share your story?
Full that was based on the lives of alleged drug
WAYNE PERRY: I really don't and haven't talked about my past in a
dealers AZ Faison, Rich Porter and Alpo. long time because even though I speak facts and the truth, one could
easily mistake the truth for arrogance. I hate arrogance. Besides that,
The urban folklore is well known, often chronicled in rap music and it's a struggle to simply reach out to one's family and friends from this
urban dvd's, but no one really knows the man behind the legend. slave plantation, Neo Nazi camp (ADX). These racist crackers that
Wayne Perry has been spending the last 12 years of his LIFE sen- run ADX are so foul they tear up, if not all, most of my outgoing mail,
tence at USP Florence ADMAX. USP Florence ADMAX is one of only so it's difficult for me to reach anyone, and these crackers also tear
two "supermax" federal prisons (the other one is in Marion, Illinois), up my incoming mail and lie to justify rejecting most of my mail
and is the only federal prison built from the ground up originally as a DD: How much longer do you have to do in ADX?
locked-down "supermax". It's where the U.S. sends federal prisoners WP: I have18 months left in Control Unit. Insha Allah {God Willing),
who are extremely dangerous, or are deemed to need the tightest if I don't get my time ran up, I hope to get to a pen. But most likely
security. The most notable inmates that have been held in ADX are these crackers are going to keep me here in ADX a while longer. I've
Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso, mobster and former underboss of the been here 12 years. I refuse to kiss these crackers' asses or com-
Lucchese crime family, Larry Hoover, leader of the Gangster Disciples promise. It's death before dishonor for Life with me. I ain't going for
Nation based in Chicago, Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano, of nothing.
the Gambino crime family, Theodore Kaczynski, the "Unabomber", By all accounts Wayne "Silk" Perry was consistently a hardcore and
Zacarias Moussaoui, conspirator in the September 11, 2001 attacks, serious dude. Newspaper accounts, legal documents and street
just to name a few. reports all describe Wayne Perry as a calculated and often ruthless
Inside USP Florence ADMAX is a Control Unit- this is where they individual that would not bend from his principles even in the face
keep the worst of the worst. The inmates in the Control Unit are of death. When faced with his immortality he has said, "I live to die."
allegedly the most dangerous men in the country. DD: Where did you grow up?
Wayne Perry is kept in this Control Unit where he is in solitary con- WP: I was born 17-14-62 and raised in D.C. I grew up down
finement for 23 hours a day, 365 days a year. Perry rarely sees other Southwest and lived on L street- I spent a lot, of the summers of my
inmates, and his only direct human interaction is with correctional offi- childhood in Georgia- I even put fools in the dirt down there and back
48 D O N D I V A M A G A Z I N E www.dondivamag.com / Volume.7 Issue 30 1-877-366-3482

then it was super racist. Crackers used to call me boy. they thought I was lucky. I was rich for a youngster in 1977.
DD: What were you into back in those days? DD: When did you start robbing?
WP: I was the best baseball player in D.C. at one time. I've been in WP: I started robbing in 1978. I started robbing banks. My little
the Washington Star several times about baseball. I grew up on brother got killed in a bank by a pig in 1979.
sports. I lived across the street from the boys club. I t-boxed, played DD: What areas of D.C. did you hang out in?
basketball, baseball, and football and was always the MVP, but I was WP: Back then, I had started hanging up 17th Street NW, gambling.
caught up in that gangster stuff. I was also hanging on 14th Street, and 7th and T Street NW with
DD: Where did you get the name Silk from? older guys, watching their backs while they hustled. They knew I'd
WP: I got the name Silk from my extended brother, Lop. I was real shoot anybody, police, killers, gorillas, etc. I also used to go on rob-
smooth in sports and with the girls when I was a kid- I was 12 or so beries with some gangsters, but they always took the bullets out of
when Lop gave me that name- Lop was my idol, the most thorough my gun cause they said I was trigger-happy.
joker I ever knew.
DD: What were your high school days like? In the early-1980s Southwest, D.C. was the host of some of the
WP: I went to Wilson High School. I got locked up in 79 for shoot- biggest crap games in the city. Hustlers and gangsters from all over
ing the hall monitor man. But I really didn't shoot him. The dude who D.C. could be found at these crap games. By this time, Wayne
did it and his crew blamed it on me because it was a riot, SW against Perry's name was all over Southwest and a few other spots; he had
NW, and I kicked it off by punishing this older joker from NW, but I his hands in a little bit of everything. He was known to make an exam-
didn't have a weapon. It was known that I wouldn't tell and I'd ride it ple out of whoever crossed the line with him. Silk's close comrade,
out so they lied on me, but I beat it in court. I got put out of school and D.C. street figure, Sop Sop, remembers one of those examples:
and went to Randall High School but ended up beating the baseball "They had this big crap game going on outside down Southwest one
team coach with a bat at practice and got barred out of all D.C. pub- day. A lot of well-known hustlers and gamblers from other parts of
lic schools. Then I went to Franklin GED school cause a judge the city were out there. Wayne and this well-known and respected
ordered me to. I had to kill a fool there for telling me he was going to dude got into it about a bet. Wayne shot him in his ass twice in front
take my chain. I was real small back then so I guess he thought he of everybody."
could try me Despite Perry's growing notoriety in the streets, his loving parents
DD: When did you get involved in the street life? had no idea he was into so much, especially his hard working father.
WP: In 1974 I put my first fool in the dirt. I started hustling in 1975 Perry and his father eventually fell out because of Wayne's lifestyle.
and had a crew up under me. In 1976 I learned how to cheat with During their fall out Wayne spoke to his father in such a disrespectful
crooked dice, marked and cut cards- I was real good at it. Older guys way that his father was emotionally scarred for life- he had never
I never told I was cheating used to take me all over to gamble cause heard his son speak to him in such a way. Feeling deep regret after
the fall out with his father, Perry soon went to prison carrying that bur-
den. It would be a burden that would affect him for the rest of his life.
DD: What did you go to prison for at that time?
“I HAD STARTED HANGING UP WP: In 1984 I killed a fool in front of the police, it was sort of like self-
defense. I went down to Youth Center.
17TH STREET NW, GAMBLING. Lorton's Youth Center was one of the most violent and aggressive
prisons of its time. Convicts went to war with everything from ham-
I WAS ALSO HANGING ON 14TH STREET, AND mers and butcher knives to lawn mower blades. Any weakness in a
man was exploited to the utmost at the Center. It was truly a place
7TH AND T STREET NW WITH OLDER GUYS, that could make or break a man, and it produced many hardened
criminals and street figures that took the nation's capital by storm in
WATCHING THEIR BACKS WHILE THEY HUSTLED. the late 1980s and early-90s. "Wayne came down Youth Center One
where myself, Titus, Gator and many other good men were," says
THEY KNEW I'D SHOOT ANYBODY, POLICE, Sop Sop. "Wayne established himself as a man among men. He
then went home in the late 1980s and looked out for all the inmates
KILLERS, GORILLAS, ETC. he left behind and did what he had to do to survive as a man in the
streets."
DD: When did you come home from Youth Center?
I ALSO USED TO GO ON ROBBERIES WITH WP: I came home in late '87. When I came home my father was in
critical condition after having two strokes. In a short time he passed
SOME GANGSTERS, BUT THEY ALWAYS TOOK and I lost my mind and was on a death wish.
Drug trafficking, primarily in crack cocaine, began paralyzing neigh-
THE BULLETS OUT borhoods throughout the inner city in the mid 80's, and by 1988, the
District of Columbia was known as the "Murder Capital of the World."
OF MY GUN CAUSE THEY SAID Gunplay was at an all-time high. At the same time, there was tons of
money to be made for a man with a game plan and enough balls to
I WAS TRIGGER-HAPPY.” put the plan into effect. Wayne Perry had both and in no time he was
right back in the middle of things. Murder, robbery, drug dealing, owed me..."
extortion, it is alleged that Perry had his hand in it all. "He has been DD: When did you meet Alpo?
called a master philosopher when it comes to that street shit." says WP: I met the rat Alpo in 1989, I was out to destroy him over a lie a
Manny; a comrade of Perry's whom he regards as a blood brother. girl told me. I didn't know him, he was scared to death, but he was
"Silk had his extortion game down so tight that he took me to a spot that running with my close comrade, Lil Pop, who asked me not to kill him.
was owned by some major dudes in the city and said: 'Go in there and DD: Why did you want to kill Alpo at first?
tell such and such to send a bag of that money out here and don't make WP: A broad told a lie on Alpo. She told me he said that he was put-
me come in there and get it either.' I thought he was playing, but he was ting a hit on me. When I ran into him I didn't know he was
dead serious." Manny remembers. "I went in the spot and told the dude Alpo. I told [my dude] Lil Po that I heard Alpo be with
what Wayne said and with no problem the dude gave me a bag full of him and for him to let me know who he was
money. Wayne had dudes scared to death." Silk didn't stop at street so I could smash him. Lil Pop asked
figures when it came to his extortion game he went as far as extorting why I wanted to smash Po
lawyers and Italians in Georgetown. and I told him what the
It has been said that when Wayne started taking money for mur- broad said. Lil Pop told me
der nobody was safe. If the price was right and the joker wasn't that the girl was lying and he
in Wayne's circle he had NO problem killing them. He was said that if Po would have said
known to wait on his victims for as long as it took. There are he was going to put a hit on
stories of Silk sleeping in the yard of dudes that had me that he would have
money on their heads until he could get at them. smashed Po himself. The
Silk allegedly told a comrade of his: "I don't play whole time Po was with Lil Pop. So after
that across the street shit, I walk right up and me and Lil Pop talked he then said this is
put seven in they head like it ain't shit," Po. Alpo begged me not to kill him and said
According to police and homicide he never said that he was going to put a hit on
detectives, one of the things that me. That was that. Lil Pop ended up getting
made Wayne Perry so dangerous the girl that lied on Po.
was that he would kill where
least expected. He would Not long after this encounter, Wayne According
pop up in broad daylight to Alpo, ended up in jail for murder and no one was try-
and gun down a vic- ing to get him out of jail. The streets of D.C. were relieved
tim in the middle of that Perry was locked up, they allegedly felt like they could
a crowded outside move around freely without worrying about Perry killing or
basketball tourna- extorting them. A young D.C. dude by the name of Lil Pop,
ment. At times, it was stepped to Alpo and told him that his man was in jail and needed
said that he wouldn't even bail of $10,000. Alpo saw this as an opportunity to get the most
wear a mask, knowing that wit- dangerous dude in D.C. on his team and earn him a pass to
nesses would be scared to death
to talk to police.
The fear that silk put in the hearts of
some people was like no other. Even other “ MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT;
so-called killers tried to avoid his shit list.
Close friends of Silk say that he had a thing for taking
down wanna-be killers. He also put fear in the hearts of big drug fig-
ures that he wasn't even paying attention to at times. "When Silk was
ALPO IS A SPINELESS COWARD,
on the Streets, certain dudes wouldn't even drive their expensive cars
because they didn't want him to think they were getting money," says
A RAT OF THE HIGHEST ORDER. I WILL NEVER
Manny. "if you were weak or a punk in his eyes you weren't supposed
to have shit as far as he was concerned...Only the strong survive." UNDERSTAND HOW PEOPLE PRAISE AND
Loyalty was one of Wayne's strong points. If he had love for you
and respected you he would stand against the world with you no mat- ROMANTICIZE SNITCHES, RATS AND
ter what the odds were. "Wayne was a real good dude," says Sop
Sop, "A well respected man in the streets...Wayne would give a friend
the shirt off his back. Silk lived by the code, but played by his own
rules." It would be that same undying loyalty that would almost cost
SELL-OUTS. I WOULD DIE A THOUSAND
his life because it was wasted on a coward.
Even Alberto Alpo Martinez, who betrayed Wayne by snitching on
DEATHS BEFORE I EVER COMPROMISED MY
him stated in magazine interviews, "This kid was a real good loyal
dude and he really respected that I got him out [of jail] and he felt he PRINCIPLES AS A MAN.”
cop $6,000,000 worth of cocaine. The deal was to put

up $2,000,000 and owe $4,000,000. Alpo was to put up
$1,500,000 and let Gary get down with $500,000.
According to Alpo, Silk learned that Gary planned to kill
Alpo in the process of the deal. Gary turned up shot
seven times and dumped naked in Rock Creek Park in
NW, Washington D.C.
As time went on, the money and murder became a blur.
At the same time, the FBI and D.C. homicide detectives
were hearing the name Wayne Perry in connection with
too many murders. The heat was on and law enforcement
went after Wayne Perry. However, Silk allegedly put an
end to investigations and court cases by killing witnesses.
Alpo told federal prosecutors that Wayne Perry caught
one female that was about to testify against him and
ended up stabbing her in the face and head before shoot-
ing her five times and dumping her body on Interstate 295.
Alpo claimed that Silk had a thing for torture.
By 1992, Wayne Perry was in jail in Prince George's
County, MD where he was being held on a number of
charges, but nothing that would lay him down for a long
time. As Wayne appeared in court in December of 1992
to plead guilty to one count of selling a counterfeit sub-
stance to an undercover he was arrested by the Safe
Streets Task Force and charged with first-degree murder
in the October 23, 1991 slaying of Garrett "Gary" Terrell
in the furtherance of a continuing criminal enterprise. The
beginning of the end was at hand, but Wayne remained
firm and kept his mouth closed even though he was facing
WAYNE PERRY FEDERAL PRISON
a life sentence if convicted for the murder in D,C.
Meanwhile, Alpo was already in jail on cocaine distribu-
tion charges. Alpo showed signs of weakness from the
make money in D.C. Alpo invested the $10,000 for Wayne's bail, jump. The Washington Post reported that as Alpo appeared in court
something that Wayne would repay to Alpo over and over again by after his November 1991 arrest he "sniffled loudly as tears welled up
saving his life and protecting him. in his eyes." Alpo soon began to cooperate with the federal govern-
Wayne saw a golden opportunity in dealing with Alpo at a time ment, who really wanted Wayne Perry.
when coke was short in the city so he took him under his protection. On March 5, 1993, federal prosecutors unsealed a 27-count indict-
Silk's protection was supposed to make Alpo off limits for the hungry ment charging Wayne Perry, Tyrone Price and Michael Jackson with
wolves of the city, but they came out of the woodwork trying to get at committing murder in the furtherance of a continuing criminal enter-
him. About his business, Silk stepped up and put heads to bed with prise for the execution of nine people, conspiracy to distribute crack
no questions asked. In the process, he damn near dared anyone to cocaine, racketeering conspiracy, retaliating against a witness, kid-
fuck with Alpo. Soon afterward, Alpo was allegedly moving 30 bricks napping and robbery. The indictment was based on the cooperation
of coke a day at times and Wayne was eating like a king. If dudes of Alpo, who had already pleaded guilty to ordering multiple murders.
owed Alpo money and were playing games about paying, Silk went According to the indictment, Perry, Price and Jackson were paid by
to get the money and didn't care who the dude was supposed to be. Alpo for killings in drugs or money. The drug operation allegedly
It's alleged that one of the city's biggest drug dealers owed Alpo shipped more than 500 kilograms of cocaine into D.C. between
close to a million dollars at one time. Alpo wasn't pressing the situa- 1989 and 1991. Wayne was allegedly responsible for eight of the
tion, but Silk stepped to the dude and told him, "That money you owe nine murders; he was also identified by law enforcement as the "pre-
Po ain't Po's money no more, it's mine and I want that." It's said that miere shooter" and "hit man" for the so-called drug gang headed by
Wayne, had the money the next day and kept it for himself. In a short Alberto "Alpo" Martinez. Martinez under the federal witness protec-
time, Alpo had a ghetto pass and could roam D.C. safely, getting tion and was going to testify against Perry.
money. He was worth more to Wayne alive than dead. As the money One of the murders that Wayne Perry was indicted for was the
began to pile up, more bodies began to drop. 1990 shooting of Michael "Fray" Salters, a notorious but well
One of the bodies that grabbed the attention of homicide detec- respected Washington Drug dealer who himself was the subject of a
tives was that of Garrett "Gary" Terrell. According to Alpo, he and five-year investigation by D.C. police and the FBI.
Gary were best of friends. He said that Gary killed Rich Porter with Alpo told the government that Salters died because he and Perry
him. Alpo claimed that he and Gary were putting money together to believed that Salters was going to kill Martinez. Martinez and Perry
paid Michael Jackson $9000 in cash, a half-kilogram of cocaine and I copped out to make sure others didn't get life sentences. I took the
a 9mm handgun to kill Salters. bull by the horns to save others. That's the kind of man I am. At the
DD: What was your role in the killing of Michael "Fray" Salters? time of taking his plea Wayne was concerned that his plea bargain
WP: As far as the Fray thing, I'm going to tell you about it. I wouldn't if agreement did not look like he was cooperating with prosecution
it could get someone in trouble, but the rat already told it. But dig, that against the co-defendants in the murder-racketeering cases. The
[Fray's Murder] was a cruddy snake move. And his trusted friends got judge acknowledged for the record that Perry was not implicating
him, not me. They put it out there that I did it. Yes, I was after Fray others with his plea.
because he put a hit on me. He said he had to get me out the way so DD: After everything that went down, what are you feelings about
he could extort Alpo. Alpo was scared of Fray but I wasn't and Alpo felt Alpo?
ok as long as he had me. So I end up finding out about the hit on me WP: Make no mistake about it; Alpo is a spineless coward, a rat of
and I got at those in Fray's crew who took the hit and let him [Fray] know the highest order. I will never understand how people praise and
that he was next. But I couldn't track him down. romanticize snitches, rats and sell-outs. I would die a thousand
So those snakes that used to be down at that shop on Georgia deaths before I ever compromised my principles as a man. As I think
Avenue [who were] close to Fray but were scared of him playing back, I always knew Alpo was weak and capable of everything he dis-
[both sides.] So Alpo and them set it up for Fray's close buddy to hit played. I had my reasons for not putting him in the dirt. I should have
him and then tell all Fray's people that I did it cause he was close to put the barrel in his mouth"
me too but he is a snake and has no loyalty. He even told the feds Alpo single handedly turned Washington D.C. soldiers against
that he heard that he and Marky and Mario got Fray. The dude is a New York soldiers. He helped create an animosity that is present to
snake. All the time he was the one that did it and the dudes at the this day. Alpo is the poster child for hating New York. It has been
shop was all in on it. Now dig, one of my kids mother's heard the reported that Alpo, justified his cooperation to his hometown Harlem
whole lie about me killing Fray at Fray's funeral where all the dudes by saying, "I didn't' tell on anyone from New York."
and the dude that got Fray were saying I did it. At the time I don't DD: Do you have any advice for the younger generation?
know all of this and the dude who did it was my man at the time, I still WP: It's important that they never take the field and play the game
didn't know he did it until we got locked up. The dude knew my that has no ending and no winners. Rats have tainted the game.
daughter's mother heard him at Fay's funeral so he hurried up and Nowadays, you can't trust guys in the game, especially the ones that
came to me and tell me she was at the funeral telling people that I seem to be winning because as soon as the heat comes down
killed Fray. The dude knew I would believe him and ask no questions they're selling out. Kingpins are telling on foot soldiers and etc,
[and] just do what I do best, which I did. And that's my only regret. DD: Is it true that you legally changed your name?
May she rest in peace. If I would have let her talk she would have told WP: Yeah, my name is Nkosi Shaka Zulu-El. I got rid of my slave
me the truth. But I wouldn't have listened because I stand for loyal- name and took on the Eulu name because they are a strong Black blood
ty and my loyalty was with the dude that was my man. M.J. is a snake. line of our ancestors who are the most hated Blacks of all time. I'm also
In June of 1993 the government decided to seek the death penal- Muslim now and my fate lies in the hands of Allah, the Most High.
ty against Wayne Perry in federal court. His case was the first death
penalty case brought in D.C. since 1971. The last execution was in
1957, when Robert Carter was electrocuted for killing a police offi-
cer. In an effort to get the death penalty approved by Attorney
General Janet Reno, prosecutors filed a list of alleged aggravating
factors stating that Wayne Perry was responsible for killings for hire,
torture, kidnappings and retaliation against witnesses. Wayne was
the only defendant that was to face death on his case. Reporters
present in court when Wayne learned that he would face death said
that he smiled despite having heard the grim news
DD: How did you feel when you learned that you would face the death
penalty?
WP: I went with the flow, I don't fear nothing and no one but God!
After a number of ups and downs, betrayals and double crossings,
Wayne Perry pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to five counts of
murder in the furtherance of a continuing criminal enterprise for the
killings of Domenico Benson, who was shot as he shook Alpo's hand
because he allegedly slapped Alpo’s wife in a previous altercation
with her; Evelyn Carter, who was allegedly cooperating with police,
she was shot in the head at close range leaving Constitution Hall;
Yolanda Burley; Alveta Hopkins; and Garrett "Gary" Terrell. Silk was
immediately sentenced to five life sentences. In March of 1994, at
31 years old, Wayne Perry's run in the streets was over.
DD: Why did you plead guilty to the murders? WAYNE PERRY FEDERAL PRISON
WP: I didn't cop out because of the death penalty. I live to die.

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BECAREFUL WHAT
YOU WISH FOR The K E V I N C H I L E S Story
Everybody wants to be the man until it’s time to be a man.

Story by: Jeanelle Anthony + Edited by: Cavario H.
Photography by Leroy Champaign
Now some 20-years past, New York’s 1980s “crack era,” sowed the seeds that would sprout a new generation with a new atti-
remains legendary kept alive through a slew of glory stories tude and a new drug. The drug lords of the 70s set the stage for the
new jack hustler and the analeptic coined “Crack” for the ‘KraKKling’
chronicling street wars and high-life extravagances that sound that it made when it was being ingested
rival any Hollywood epic. This new drug and its generation ‘next’ developed in the economic
When we speak about the “best” that ever did it, we have to go back vacuum that was produced during the late nineteen-seventies slump of
before the crazy 80s, to the late 1960s and throughout the 70s. Topping the poppy plant. Many in the urban coil never before having the oppor-
the list would have to be Frank “Pee-Wee” Matthews, who did it and got tunity to partake in the opulence that they witnessed as children, found
away with it. Gentlemen like Pee-Wee Kirkland, Guy Fisher and “New themselves surrounded by an abundant availability of a relatively inex-
York” Freddie Myers (to name the few) have to be mentioned honorably pensive drug that could be purchased without the benefit of a recom-
as they did it equally well. The “it” we refer to is the narcotics game and mendation -”...if you had $250 [and] you knew how to cook it, you did-
in their day, the drug of choice was heroin and these men ruled Harlem n’t have to know nobody, you could buy an ounce of coke on almost any
as narco-kings. Unable to foresee the fertile ground they tilled, they corner.” -Anonymous ex-crack addict from the South Bronx.

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Crack brought forth vast abundance albeit bedeviled. “People was The Stage; Harlem N. Y. 1986
makin’ so much money yo... but a lot more people was fuckin’ up they Thick with underworld mystique, Harlem ‘popped’ 24/7 and every
life too!” -Bronx addict “X.” event was turned into a party/fashion show. Any given Friday or
In the day of the heroin dealer, the line between hustlers and “hard- Saturday night 145th Street and 8th Avenue would turn into a car
workin’” people was clear and defined, one often went about their show, fashion show and party. Dozens of high-end cars with blaring
tasks in good natured light, while the other existed in a clandestine audio systems would literally stop traffic, while the hustlers sporting
illumination. The two groups coexisted harmoniously and respected their custom Dapper Dan outfits and other designer fashions would
one another’s methods of living. hold court with their entourages. Gambling was also a popular pas-
When crack became king it created a lawless and often moral-less time for these young newly rich brothers. Street basketball was the
land. The respect once common in and under the community began game of choice for many hustlers who would bet tens of thousands
to wither, as the legitimate citizen fell victim to of dollars on a single game. Those who could-
the “the hard white lady and her glass-dick” n’t actually play ball, sponsored basketball
and the rules of secret enterprise decayed at a teams in street tournaments in which they
rapid rate. would bet a small fortune on. As depicted in
That’s not to imply that the rules hadn’t been the 1994 movie “Above the Rim”- a rare game
broken in the age of the original black could break out into gunfire if a hustler didn’t
gangster, Leroy “Nicky” Barnes, associate of like a refs call. A player or playette could find a
Italian mobster “Crazy Joe” Gallo as well as piece of the gambling set going down any-
Frank Lucas, leader of “The Country Boys” (a where and at anytime. Night clubs in Harlem
reputed 2-million dollar a day organization), saw often doubled as gambling dens. Club S&S
to that. Their dealings too harvested fruit infest- was situated above the infamous Willy burgers
ed with worms and insects -the scourge of take-out shack on 145th Street and the Zodiac
street-life -the rat. club, just across the avenue, hosted games
It’s certain that the men who directed the that went on for days at a time. Cars, hundreds
underworld of yesterday have influenced Holly- of thousands of undeclared dollars, legitimate
wood directors’ interpretations of the gangster, businesses, homes and even women were
as far back as a time before sound. But now with wagered, won and lost in these places.
1981 Kevin at 15 years old
Scarface, the premier narco-drama, celebrating The 80’s in Harlem were also known for the
its 20th year anniversary, the ‘art’ of motion pic- astonishing amounts of money hustlers spent
tures has evolved into the role of “blueprint.” on their women and cars. The finest women
Vivid images of the violent reality that era brought from all five boroughs would walk the streets of
to the lives of so many, are depicted in what are Harlem looking to catch that player who would
considered street classics, such as, “New Jack make their ghetto dreams come true. The ladies
City,” “Menace to Society,” “Boys in the Hood” came out in their spandex pants, biker shorts,
and most recently “Paid In Full” a Roc-A-Fella Reebok Classics, Fila and Sergio Tacchini
Film based on the lives of individuals from sweats or mink coats and leathers, depending on
Harlem. Guys vying for top billing in today’s thug the season. Hair and nails were always flawless
theater have been taking pages from Hollywood as they flaunted their young hard bodies for the
scripts and most have chosen to postulate the “money makers.” You could always catch a
role of Tony Montana, never seeming to take into “hottie” on the corner payphone waiting for her
consideration that fictional character’s end. hustler of choice to return her page. In this day,
Many aspiring Scarface’s of the 80s did not sur- tricking did not make you appear weak. The
vive to tell their stories, too many more have more money you spent on women, the bigger
crossed lines that disenable them a legitimate your reputation grew. Stories circulate of play-
voice even in the underworld -these individuals ers dropping $5,000 on shopping sprees, heli-
are truly dead. copter trips to Atlantic City for the night not to
As for those that did not lose their lives on the mention cars and a rare house or two. At the
dance floor of some weekend hotspot or in a bare minimum, a woman could expect the “ob-
Fall 1986
gun battle over whose right was greater to occu- ligatory” shopping money the next morning
py a street or its corners, they can only tell their after spending the night with a hustler. The lav-
tales to others incased in a concrete and steel tomb -their voices cut off ish spending was nothing to the hustlers. A hustler could change a
from the “real” world -some with release dates that read simply woman’s life with his pocket change. He enjoyed her company for the
“DECEASED.” They may often think about what they would do differ- evening; the week or however long the tryst lasted and she came up
ently if they ever got the chance. Ultimately, in the 80s, death was the monetarily- fair exchange is no robbery.
outcome for not only many of the players but the game itself. Some may Like being seen with the right women, a hustler’s car played a critical
disagree or argue, but those who know will nod their heads in agree- role in his street imaging. The right car could give the appearance of
ment while recollecting and sorting through their own tales. being on and doing well which would immediately catapult a hustler to
1-877-366-3482 www.dondivamag.com / Volume.4 Issue 19 D O N D I V A M A G A Z I N E 29

Pages#26_33.qxt 9/10/04 4:25 PM Page 27
“baller status.” A “hooked up” car would often develop a reputation of then settled in the Bronx, blocks from the house that Babe Ruth built,
its own that often rivaled that of its owner. Once a player was associat- Yankee stadium. Kevin grew up in a household that may have been poor
ed with a particular vehicle- just the site of the car would signify his pres- in cash, but rich in old school family values. These values were later the
ence no matter who was driving the car. Spectators of the game- male driving force for Kevin becoming a successful businessman and his
and female alike, would scope the Rooftop in younger brother, Tony graduating from the very
Harlem, Rucker Park on 155th Street, 125th prestigious Columbia University.
Street and 145th Street between 7th and 8th Kevin’s mother, Barbara Jean was the primary
Avenue, waiting for their favorite hustlers car to source of income for the family. Although a hard
ride up or down the block, music blasting hug- worker, she was barely able to make ends meet.
ging the street like they owned it. “Doing it big” Kevin remembers many days with no heat or hot
was the theme of the 80s and if you were doing water in their tenement apartment. His mother
it then you had to bring your show to -or at least would keep the oven door open in order to stay
through— Harlem. warm during winter months. Other times Mrs.
This era seemed lawless in the eyes of those Chiles would send Kevin to the store with rolls of
who played the Harlem stage. Federal activity pennies just to buy a 1/4 LB of spice ham, a 1/4
wasn’t nearly as common as it would later be- LB of cheese and loaf of bread for dinner.
come after the enactment of severer sentencing Sometimes there would be no pennies to roll and
guidelines on Nov 1 1987. The Reagan/ Bush Kevin would have to tell the store owner his
era signaled a high and fast time for the criminal mother needed credit and would pay him back
world. The arrest of a noted narco-roller by the when she got paid that week. These memories
name of “Sickle” momentarily shook Harlem and Kevin & Friends at a party-Fall 1986 remain strong in his conscious and were always
denoted the beginning of the end. Sickle’s crew a motivating factor in his effort to get his family
was one of the first to get indicted by the feds out of their situation.
during this time and the event played on the real- Kevin was born a hustler and had an innate
ities of many hustlers, “Damn, I can go to jail? ability to create situations that resulted in
The Feds can pick me up?” These concerns income. Developing a strong work ethic, as an
would soon pass, due to the adaptive nature of adolescent Kevin packed groceries, sold news
hustlers who in the face of a harsher reality sim- papers, shoveled snow, scalped tickets and
ply convinced themselves that they were smarter did whatever he had to do to make money. His
than the guys that came before them. Most hus- mother’s struggle was his motivation and Kevin
tlers at this time believed that they really had to is quick to let you know that at that time he hus-
be “BIG” to get picked up by the feds, some tled out of necessity.
genuinely thought that the government only both- Kevin Chiles: I saw how good my mom felt
ered with cases associated with violence that about the part I was playing in contributing to the
resulted in murders. They believed that as long household money with my little hustles and it
as they stayed within the parameters of these made me feel good. I wanted to do more for her.
understandings they were safe. There are peni- I wanted to take care of her.
tentiaries overflowing with inmates that can attest Always one step ahead of the game Kevin
Winter 1987- Kevin and Cousin John
to these notions being merely myths. moved onto bigger and bigger hustles. In the mid
There is only one man left from that era that 80’s there was no P. Diddy or Jay- Z, no MTV or
can tell the story of this time and place with first BET, but there were the streets and the charac-
hand knowledge and an intact character. ters in those streets that dictated the lifestyles of
Richard “Richie-Rich” Porter and Fritz are de- the GHETTO rich and famous. The streets dic-
ceased. Alberto “Alpo” Martinez is a profession- tated who was “on”, what car was “hot”, and
al government witness and AZ’s credibility has what jewelry to rock. There were no rappers in a
been questioned due to the fact that he testified music video for these young brothers to mimic, it
against individuals that allegedly shot him, there- was the number man, pimps, and drug dealers
by breaking a cardinal rule; what happens in the that were setting the scene, creating their own
1987 Las Vegas, Nevada- Reika and Kevin
streets, is handled in the streets. In the eyes of style and making history. For Kevin, these were
respected men, AZ’s actions constitute snitching. In light of all that has all attainable dreams. These figures were real to him and he knew he
transpired, Kevin Chiles seems to be the last man standing. His life has could be one of the them. A regular at the hottest clubs, Kevin observed
been filled with trials, tribulations and successes that can rival any block- the game and its players. He took his time, honed the craft and eventu-
buster movie. ally found his place in the moment.
JA: Most people know about Rich Porter, Alpo and AZ from the movie Paid
The making of a hustler in Full. Who were you in relation to them... who was making more money?
Kevin Chiles was the older of two sons born to Barbara Jean and Tony Kevin Chiles: In hindsight it is an easy question to answer, I did. Rich
Chiles. Born in North Carolina, he and his family migrated to Harlem and and I had the same ideology on the game but Rich’s life was cut short-

Pages#26_33.qxt 9/10/04 4:25 PM Page 28
1987 190e
Kevin’s 1987 Custom Mercedez Benz shipped from Germany
he and I often talked about different real-estate ventures. Rich owned Kevin Chiles: New Years Eve-1987- me and my cousin John had such
property in New York and Florida. Rich used to travel a lot and so did I, a good year we rode around Harlem with the top off my jeep just throw-
while most dudes never left their block. Long story short, I was always ing money in the sky. I guess that was our idea of giving back.
the one getting paged- never the one to page. But for real for real, if I JA: the 80’s were known for the crazy whips, they still talking about one of
had to call someone it would’ve been Rich. your cars today in 2004. How many cars did you actually own at one time?
JA: What about Fritz, that is a name that is talked about often in association Kevin Chiles: It was nothing for dudes to get a car, get tired of the color
with getting money in Harlem. and go buy another one. The police took two brand new BMW 5 series
Kevin Chiles: Fritz was on a whole other level. Fritz was older than cars - they were only hours old- from two friends of mine, they went and
we were. He had a good reputation and was a good dude. He helped bought new ones that same week. I think the most I had was 5 at one
to make a lot of hustler’s realities come true. He is also deceased. time. I had cars in garages through out Manhattan and the Bronx. It
RIP to Fritz. wasn’t strange for me to switch my car twice a day or more. All my cars
JA: Was he killed too? had systems, rims, custom seating and all the tricks. Cars were just
Kevin Chiles: It is rumored that he died from AIDS. what we did for fun, for real for real. I’d get a $50,000 car and give it
JA: Who were some of the other young hustlers on the scene in Harlem at this to my girl to drive around in. In 1987 I paid over $65,000 for a custom
time? Benz that I had flown over from Germany. There was only two of its kind
Kevin Chiles: There was LA, Jason, Travis, T-Money, John-John they in the country and we owned both of them. The car was so crazy; I got
were killed in the game. R.I.P. to them. There was also Darryl Barnes- arrested for just driving it. The cops pulled me over in the Bronx and just
he’s in a wheel chair now for the rest of his life- he was shot by the police because the registration was in German and they couldn’t read it they
in the Bronx. Fat Dave, he just came home from prison, and Doo-Whop locked me up.
who is currently incarcerated... these are some that come to mind. JA: We did a story on the Preacher Crew a few years back and In the 80’s there
JA: What did it feel like to be you at this time? was a lot of speculation and talk about the extortion game and who was robbing
Kevin Chiles: Imagine being 20 years old and being able to come and who. So I have to ask this or this wouldn’t be Don Diva- were you ever robbed or
go as you please. I was pretty much able to buy anything I wanted. I extorted by anyone?
could have any girl I wanted. Aside from my personal houses, I had Kevin Chiles: No person exists that could ever say “Kev was paying
women in apartments in every city I went to. My biggest problem was me...I would go by and get money from Kev...” I have never given any-
finding things to spend money on. one a dime. At that time I am sure I had enough to be attractive to rob
JA: At your height how much money did you have? or extort but it just wasn’t something I was going for. This is not to say I
Kevin Chiles: Enough that I owned a money machine. When I was couldn’t get robbed, because anyone can be robbed. My integrity and
arrested they took a half million in cash that was just around at the time. my honor as well as the respect I have for myself makes me behave in
JA: What was the craziest thing you ever did with your money? a certain manner- its all about mutual respect and I want to be respect-

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ed and dealt with in the same manner in which I deal with others. ner in the record company, Bernard Thomas, was a planted government
Besides that, I kept good company. informant, Kevin was introduced to Bernard Thomas by producer Eric
B. who was once on a label that Bernard Thomas had something to do
Grown Folks Business with. At the request of the government, Thomas was sabotaging the
Kevin always had a mind for business and a competitive nature. success of Big Boss Records and turning down major distribution deals
He liked the challenge of creating something from nothing and watching without Kevin’s knowledge. By 1994, Kevin had a small empire of suc-
it grow. Kevin’s mother was also very practical and business minded. As cessful businesses that were generating significant revenue, a fact that
all good mothers do, she knew she had no control over his choices but would later save his life in court.
she always guided him the best way she could. Mrs.Chiles was a JA: Please tell me about the Jack the Rapper Convention in 1994-it is said that
branch manager at a bank and she taught Kevin about bank accounts, Big Boss Records put on a show.
savings bonds and taxes. With her help, Kevin bought a condominium Kevin Chiles: This year at Jack the Rapper, there were three record
at the age of 19 years old. He and his children’s mother, who was 15 companies sponsoring showcases- Bad Boy was showcasing Craig
years old at the time, would pretend to be brother and sister living with Mack, Death Row was showcasing Dr. Dre and my company was
a parent in the luxury building they resided in so suspicion would not be showcasing several different acts. I chartered buses and bought airline
aroused as to where this young couple got the money to live in the build- tickets for almost 100 people to come down with us. It was a good look
ing. Later on at the age of 21 years old, Kevin purchased his first home for us. The weekend cost me about $40,000 but when we got back to
for $300,000 in Hills-dale, New Jersey, where he and his family lived New York- we were offered three distribution deals with major labels.
comfortably for a while. Around this time, Kevin opened his first busi-
ness called Boss Sneakers on 125th and 8th Avenue, one of the most The Game Brings Tragedy:
traveled corners in Harlem. While death is an inevitable part of life in general, it is a constant expec-
JA: What made you open a sneaker store? tation in street-life but no one is ever prepared when it hits his or her own
Kevin Chiles: All we did was go shopping for clothes and sneakers home. No one expects to have his or her own mother viciously mur-
everyday so I figured if nothing but my homies supported the store I dered. For years many rumors have circulated about the actual circum-
could still make a killing and I knew that it had to be in Harlem. stances surrounding Mrs.Chiles murder- most of which are false.
Kevin eventually out grew Boss Sneakers as his vision continued to Based on testimony given by the only survivor of the shooting, America’s
grow and evolve. In 1989, he created “Boss Emporium”, bringing down- Most Wanted reenacted Mrs. Chiles murder on a their television show
town designer fashion uptown. Kevin moved his budding empire to on February 25, 1990 in an effort to capture Thomas Cross and Felipe
Harlem’s prime real estate- 125th Street, just steps from the world Concepcion, the alleged murders. Some of the reenactment was true,
famous Apollo Theater where retail rent was well over $5000 per month.
Kevin designed the store himself to look like a street scene. The store
had graffiti painted brick walls simulating buildings, with a hand-painted
mural depicting a park on one side of the store. In front of the mural was
a metal fence like the ones on basketball courts. The store also had a
working traffic light, a cement sidewalk and a real payphone on the
Avenue which happen to be called Boss Blvd. Boss Emporium had tel-
evision monitors showing music videos and featured a custom made,
fully equipped, convertible BMW in the middle of the store. Now, it was
more than just Kevin’s friends and associates shopping at his store, his
new design attracted customers like Mike Tyson, LL Cool J, Teddy Riley,
Tupac Shakur and some of the neighborhood’s notable figures.
With possibly one of the first high-end urban boutiques of this kind,
Kevin proved himself to be not only innovative and years ahead of his
time, but a marketing genius. The luxury BMW that most players would
have been sporting up and down Harlem streets was sitting in the mid-
dle of Kevin’s store being used as a clothes rack. This marketing tactic
is still talked about to this day and the topic of several ghetto tales.
Kevin used his business savvy and established several other busi-
nesses, diversifying his holdings to include a restaurant on 129th and
Lenox Avenue, two laundromats, Take No Shorts Management and Big
Boss Records. Kevin was even in negotiations with Karl Kani to manu-
facture his clothing line prior to Karl Kani signing with Cross Colours.
In 1991, when Kevin started Big Boss Records, the music industry
was not saturated with hustlers turned business men- there was no
Cash Money, No Limit, Rap-a-Lot, Ruff Ryders or Roc-A-Fella. There
were only Bad Boy and Death Row for the most part. With 2 videos
being played on BET- Big Boss Records was fast to becoming a major 1969- Mrs. Barbara Chiles and her two sons, Tony (in her arms)
and Kevin age 3 on 125th Street in Harlem
player in the music industry. Unbeknownst to Kevin, his business part-

Pages#26_33.qxt 9/10/04 4:25 PM Page 30
The KEVIN CHILES Story

some of it was false, but for the most part the story was told. diately knew something happened. She lived in a quiet area in the Bronx
According to the program, Thomas Cross and Felipe Concepcion and there were police everywhere. When I told the police who I was
were hired gunmen known in their neighborhood for their extreme they let me in the building but not in the house. Instead of the police
violence. As the incident was played out on America’s Most Wanted, telling me what happened they began harassing me. I left with out say-
Sharay Watkins was the 19-year old girl friend of an alleged drug dealing a word to anyone at the scene. I found out they took somebody or
er named Robert Williams. According to the bodies to a hospital near City Island. At the hos-
show, Rob had a drug-related beef with another pital I saw my man Rob- who was Sharay’s
individual. This person hired Thomas Cross and boyfriend. He told me as much as he knew. This
Felipe Concepcion to kill Sharay in order to send was the first time I actually knew that my mother
a message to Rob. Thomas Cross and Felipe was murdered.
Concepcion kidnapped Sharay Watkins and her JA: What was your relationship with
friend Rita Faulk on February 24,1989. They Rob and Sharay?
robbed Sharay of her jewelry and money but still Kevin Chiles: Rob was my man- he was some-
demanded more. In a panicked state Sharay tells body I could trust with my life and vice versa.
them that she had no more money, but knew Sharay was his women.
where to get some from and led them to Kevin’s JA: Did you ever blame Rob or Sharay for your moth-
mother’s house; which happened to be blocks er’s death?
from where they had been abducted. Sharay had Kevin Chiles: After hearing the story from Rob,
never actually been inside the house nor had she I automatically flipped I blamed her and then him.
ever met Mrs. Chiles before. She had only been I wanted to know why she brought them to my
outside the house to pick up Rob on occasion, mother’s house, what the fuck was she thinking?
who was a good friend of Kevin’s. Mrs. Chiles I then blamed myself for allowing him to know
happened to be coming home when Sharay and where my mother lived.
the kidnappers arrived. The kidnappers ran- JA: How did you ultimately deal with Rob
sacked the house and after taking an insignificant and Sharay?
amount of cash and other items; all 3 women Kevin Chiles: Rob and I ultimately grew apart
Kevin- New Years 1991
were shot execution style. Mrs. Chiles, 43 years because the situation was too difficult for both of
old, wife and mother of two was pronounced us. What could he really say to me? We both
dead at the scene along with Rita Faulk. Sharay eventually went to jail. He is still in jail now. It
was the only survivor. According to NYPD, Mrs. took me 2 years or so before I could even speak
Chiles had nothing to do with Robert Williams or to Sharay. I had some unanswered questions...
the drug trade. Her home was not being used as JA: One rumor that spread was that your mother was
a stash house, as the police found no evidence killed because of a problem you had in the street and this
of drugs in the home. Mrs. Chiles and Rita Faulk actually had nothing to do with Rob and Sharay.
were just victims of a twisted turn of fate. Kevin Chiles: I owned several businesses in
Felipe Concepcion was eventually appre- Harlem and the Bronx where I could be found
hended at his mother’s house in Connecticut Winter 1991- Charles Allen Brown (left) he wil any day of the week. If someone had a beef with
later cooperate with the government and testi-
for the murder of Mrs. Barbara Chiles and Rita fy against Kevin- Kevin and Reika. me they knew where to find me. Only cowards
Faulk. Thomas Cross was picked up three go after women and children. This situation was
days later in a suburb outside of Detroit. Upon not directly pertaining to me but it fell in my lap
their arrest both men were charged with the and became my problem. The fact is that if some
attempted murder and the double murders at one was looking for me I was easy to find. If
the Chiles’ home along with the unrelated kid- someone wanted my money why not come get it
napping of a 2-month old baby for ransom and from the source.
other violet crimes. Both Cross and Concep- JA: Why didn’t you retaliate?
cion were convicted and sentenced to LIFE Kevin Chiles: I never had the opportunity to
in prison. physically interact with my mother’s alleged
JA: How did you first find out about your mother’s killers. I have never seen any of them and I don’t
murder? 1992- Chris Mack and Kevin in Boss Emporium know if they have ever seen me. We have
Kevin Chiles: I was at the movies with some never had a confrontation before, during or after
friends and my cousin. Fifteen minutes into the movie I got an emer- my mother’s murder. But I do know that they are cowards, and just for
gency page. I returned the call- the woman told me she was Sharay’s the record I’ve spent plenty money on dumb shit in my life so they should
sister and that Sharay and my mother had been shot in my mother’s consider themselves lucky, because that would have been money well
house. spent. The one opportunity I had to avenge my mother’s death, I passed
JA: What was your initial reaction to this? on it. I was sitting in a car on University Avenue in the Bronx across the
Kevin Chiles: I automatically thought that this was some kind of bull- street from the building where one of the coward’s mothers lived. As she
shit and then later a set-up. I went over to my mother’s house and imme- left the building assisted by another woman. At that very in-stance I

Pages#26_33.qxt 9/10/04 4:25 PM Page 31
Kevin’s home in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey
questioned myself, would this make me just as much a coward as the catching a connecting flight in Charlotte N.C. on his way to New York,
cowards that had done what was done to my mother? I couldn’t bring when he was approached and arrested on the warrant. He was tried
myself to kill this woman in cold blood nor could I order it. If I have a and convicted on three counts of conspiracy to traffic narcotics into
problem with you, I’m not looking for your girl, your sister, and your North Carolina and sentenced to 105 years in prison.
mother I am looking for you and those directly involved. Anyone who By this time, Kevin and his crew had built up a reputation for organiz-
deals with situations in any other manner is a coward. I understand that ing street basketball games- Kevin was one of the first sponsors of the
some people believe there are no rules to the game, but I am principled now famous Rucker/EBC tournament in the late 80’s and was himself
in that sense. This is how I did things. You have players who play then organizing basketball games amongst neighborhood notables such as
you have spectators. Spectators are not in the game and the rules the Best Out Crew led by Bob-a-lob Burke and Terrell. Two members
shouldn’t apply. The reason that NIGGERS don’t have a place in the his- of Best Out, Dame Dash and Kareem Burke along with Jay Z later went
tory of organized crime is because most of us are neither organized nor on to form Roc-A-Fella Records. In1992, Puff Daddy sought Kevin’s
principled nor do we know how to be, for the most part. We’re consid- assistance in throwing a celebrity basketball game at City College in
ered savages and can’t be trusted. As history is told, it’s always how the New York. Kevin’s store, Boss Emporium was the sole ticket outlet.
Colombians are cool with Dominicans/Puerto Ricans...The Italians, the There was great anticipation for the event and thousands of people
Russians, the Chinese and/or Japanese etc... You never hear about showed up. The event turned into a tragedy as 8 people were crushed
another race of gangsters being cool with NIGGERS. All the other to death trying to gain entrance into the college gymnasium.
races have a common bond or mutual respect for one another, the game
and how it’s played. This enables them to do business. You don’t have Making Headlines
to be friends to do business with one another, just a respect for the Major Drug Ring in Harlem Busted- NY Daily News
game and its rules. Regulations and boundaries are necessary in order Federal authorities smashed a major Harlem drug ring November 1, 1994...The
for all things to work and succeed legally or illegally- no if ands or buts.... group’s alleged leader, Kevin Chiles, 28 yrs-old, described as one of the biggest drug
lords since Leroy (Nicky) Barnes, and 16 followers were charged with shipping
Tragedy strikes again cocaine and heroin to cities from Boston to Atlanta....Authorities estimate that
In 1990, not long after his mother’s murder, Kevin’s father, Tony Chiles’ Chiles, who has no previous drug arrests, sold over two tons cocaine and heroin
past caught up with him. There was a warrant lodged against him in the and a estimated $40 million in drug sales since starting his organization in 1987.
state of North Carolina that he didn’t know existed. The case stemmed
from a woman that had been arrested in the airport carrying several kilos Kevin was charged with the KING PIN statue 848(a) and (b) which car-
of cocaine and was cooperating with authorities. Tony Chiles, Sr. was ried a potential sentence of Life without parole and MONEY LAUN-

Pages#26_33.qxt 9/10/04 4:25 PM Page 32
DERING 1956(a) (1) (B) (I) which carried a minimum of 20 years. Chiles
was also charged with various weapon charges.
In November of 1994, Kevin Chiles along with 21 codefendants,
including his children’s mother, his aunts, his cousins and friends in his
immediate circle were arrested. The long list of codefendants included
Kevin’s childhood friend Chris Mack, as well as his accountant that he
barely knew. Chris had a prior conviction and was facing possible LIFE.
Chris refused to cooperate with the government and signed his name to
a 17-year plea agreement rather than snitch on his childhood friend. Mr.
Merante, an accountant, whom had no personal relationship with Kevin
and the amount of business they did together was not significant and did
not warrant him subjecting himself to the government’s scrutiny.
However, Mr. Merante did not cooperate with the government against
Kevin and ended up doing some time in prison. The type of loyalty and
integrity these two men showed is virtually unheard of today.
Due to the way the justice system is set up in the United States, coop-
erating with the government a.k.a. snitching has become a get out jail
free card for many cowards and wanna-be gangsters. Chuck a.k.a.
Born a.k.a. Charles Allen Brown, was an associate of Kevin’s and one
of his codefendants. Chuck was the only codefendant named on Kevin’s
indictment that did not get arrested on November 1, 1994. While every-
one else was in jail, Chuck was on the run. At this time, the govern-
ment’s case against Kevin was falling apart because not one of the indi-
viduals they arrested was cooperating. The government found no guns,
no drugs and no substantiating evidence.
While Chuck is on the run, Alberto “Alpo” Martinez, while in the wit-
ness protection program, sends government documents detailing
Chiles’ case to AZ Faison in the streets. AZ in turn contacts Chuck and
arranges to give the information to him. It later comes out in Kevin’s trial
that Alpo is one of many informants assisting the government with
Kevin’s case and others. Chuck gets caught in March 1995 by the feds
after being on the run for 5 months - court documents reveal that Chuck
Allen Brown started cooperating with the government as soon as he
was arrested. At the time of Kevin and the others arrests, the govern-
ment confiscated 7 vehicles. When Chuck was arrested, he showed the Kevin and his wife Tiffany on visit in Federal Prison 2001
government how to open several stash boxes in these vehicles reveal-
ing weapons and 1 kilo of cocaine. With their first pieces of evidence, agreement of 20 years.
the government’s hopes were renewed and they went full steam ahead Kevin: 20 years! I just couldn’t see it! I couldn’t sign my name and know
with their prosecution. I would spend the next 20 years of my life in prison.
Denied bail, Kevin remained in prison for about 2 years before his trial JA: what happened next?
started. He entered his first trial with about 14 codefendants, the others Kevin: I went for a bail hearing and was dined. The government stated
took pleas or had their charges dropped before the first trial began. With that they was going to retry the case and was ready to go back to trial
over 8000 recorded conversations, surveillance tapes, records from when the court was ready.
tracking devices hooked up to their cars, 100 plus witnesses including Kevin’s second trial also ended in a hung jury.
car dealers, jewelers, furriers, mortgage brokers, countless files and JA: How were you feeling?
business records and 4 months of testimony, the trial ended in a hung Kevin: I thought, they have to let me go.
jury. Why? Two reasons: one- Kevin’s defense team headed by attorney, That’s what most people would have thought. What Kevin didn’t take
Mr. Anthony Ricco and investigator, Frank Gonzalez was able to show into account was that the government had a 97% conviction rate. They
using the government’s own admissions and their IRS agents, that Kevin had spent a considerable amount of money investigating him for over 2
had generated a significant amount of revenue that justified his lifestyle. years and getting two hung juries was an embarrassment. The govern-
And two Charles Allen Brown turned out not to be a credible witness. ment was not going to let Kevin go home. Kevin’s lawyer Mr. Anthony
Remember, he obtained information about the case from another gov- Ricco continued to stress that no matter how much money Kevin had,
ernment informant: Alpo via A.Z. The jury questioned the extent of his he could not fight the government. They were determined to justify their
knowledge of the facts. With lack of evidence and the support of the expenditures and get a conviction .
government’s own agents the jury was left with reasonable doubt. After After much thought, Kevin decided that he was fighting a losing battle
two weeks of deliberation, the jury could not come to a verdict. The and decided to take a plea. Initially he wanted to get a 5-year sentence,
judge declared a mistrial and the government offered Kevin a plea but the government would not take anything less than the mandatory
(story continued on page 106)
Pages#26_33.qxt 9/10/04 4:26 PM Page 33
The YAYO Story (continued) The KEVIN CHILES Story (continued)

Cavario: That’s some different shit! Niggaz was Boofin’ batteries! minimum due to the embarrassment the case caused them. Kevin decid-
Double A´s I’m sure... I know niggaz wasn’t boofin’ no D´s -hahahahaha! ed that he would accept the 10 years if the government would bring
Yayo: Hahahaha! But it’s about bein’ scared it’s the fear of the unknown, Chris Macks’ plea agreement from 17 years to 10 years as well. The
that’s what it is in any jail you go to. government agreed.
Cavario: Right. But my thing is, no matter where you go there you are. JA: Why did you go so hard for Chris? This type of
Yayo: Yeah, no matter where you are ‘be you’. But I’m talkin’ about for a loyalty is virtually unheard of.
nigga that it’s his first bid. Kevin Chiles: I just could not go home before Chris. I couldn’t see it
Cavario: I understand that too. When a nigga knows who he is and he besides look what he had done for me, one good turn deserves another.
do some shit like stickin’ batteries in his ass, he is bein’ himself and he’s
getting himself the fuck outta there like, “I don’t belong here!” Hahahaha! The Aftermath
Yayo: ‘Cause a nigga don’t wanna be in there but that’s just a part of Even though the government was not able to prove that Kevin was laun-
life for us, everybody eventually do a bid but to a nigga that jus’ did a dering money or that he bought his assets with illegal proceeds, they
bid it’s the fear of the unknown ‘cause I seen niggaz get cut, I seen seized his million-dollar estate in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey and sever-
niggaz wit’ the sneaky stealin’ shit get the shit beat outta them and get al of his businesses. They also seized his cars, his family’s cars, life
kicked out the ‘house’. I learned from a lot’a OGs and a lot’a young insurance policies, bank accounts and countless pieces of jewelry.
niggaz. The old timers ain’t stupid sometimes they jus’ do stupid JA: What was going through your mind at the onset of all this?
things -them niggaz got experience ‘cause they been there. And the Kevin Chiles: I felt very bitter. I felt like I was raped by the government.
young niggaz they not stupid either, they know a lot. Niggaz just feel They never got a conviction, yet they took everything from me because
like everybody gotta be hard-body. I chose to stand as a man- had I decided to be a coward and snitch I
Cavario: As game changes, keepin’ in contact with the younger niggaz could have kept it all. But that was never an option for me.
lets you know what the new game is. It doesn’t so much get new but over JA: What was jail like for you?
time it changes where as if you’re a older dude and you ain’t been in the Kevin Chiles: Jail is jail. For people who don’t know what jail is like-
loop wit’ the younger niggaz you might not recognize it until its too late. short and simple it is not a place you want to be for too many reasons
Yayo: I went to the Four-building... ‘cause you know when you go to Jail is fucked up and no one wants to be there. But I did meet a lot of
Down-State, you go to the four-building and you gotta get on the bus... I good dudes that had a lot to do with my present outlook on life.
went to the four-building and them niggaz was like, “Oh yo, Yayo, JA: What’s important to you today, and what
ahaaaaaaa!” Wilin’ -you know, “Yo, that’s wus’up! Yayo!” Them niggaz are you most thankful for?
made me feel good. But you know there was one nigga, a big doof-ball Kevin: I have a great appreciation for my family and my liberty, I love my
adolescent, “Fuck that nigga Ya-yo!” But you know what, I look at it like, wife Tiff, she didn’t have to stand by me, she didn’t have to visit me, she
“Fuck’em” them niggaz don’t understand, I’m here wit’chu.. I’m one’a you wasn’t someone who directly benefited from anything that I did in the
nigga. I’m not jus’ a rapper nigga, the shit you was doin’ I did too. I been past- she’ll always be my best friend. I really appreciate all those who
through that. That’s why I respect them adolescent niggaz -niggaz don’t support us and understand the struggle .
know, they don’t have no consequential thinking but you gotta respect it, JA: Any last sentiments?
them niggaz is gangster too. Kevin Chiles: I came into this game as a man and I leave it as a man
Cavario: Well jus’ let me say, “welcome home” young hustler and I got amongst men with my dignity, my morals and principles and more impor-
one mo’ question fo’ ya -are you ready? tantly, my good name in tact. If it had turned out any different, had it
Yayo: I got 40-songs done. I’m on Banks’ joint, the nigga Banks held been murder or life in prison for narcotics I’ve already proved beyond a
his shit up from goin’ to the press like, “My man’ll be home tomorrow shadow of a doubt that I can stand up! Death before Dishonor”
and I want him on my shit!” I’m on Buck’s joint and I’m on 50’s joint. I want to welcome home Chris Mack and my father Tony Chiles and
I’m ready! send a RIP to Albee, Nappy Red and Bobalob- you won’t be forgotten.
Yayo: presently is on supervised Federal probation as well as State parole. Also to all my true homies you know who you are it gets greater later
STAY UP one always US...
In loving memory of
Mrs. Chiles- may she be resting in peace. God Bless.

Issue: 56, Volume №21/ www.dondivamag.com D O N D I V A M A G A Z I N E 1
142nd Street
Lynch Mob
Written By: Tiffany Chiles
26 D O N D I V A M A G A Z I N E www.dondivamag.com / Volume №21, Issue: 56

142nd Street Lynch Mob
(L to R) Farris Phillips, Vincent "Vance" Smith, Kite (Lou's

brother) Louis Griffin and Charles Leon Brown
The New York Times, New his 10-year stretch birthed

infamous gangsters that have been
York Daily News, and the immortalized in pop culture through
New York Post have all movies, books, and rap songs, and
made names like Richard Porter,
reported that from 1986 Kevin Chiles, The Preacher Crew,
to the mid 1990s—a time and Alpo Martinez synonymous with
Harlem and its history.
period known as the “Crack
Era” and the peak of Never before in Black history was there an era when
young Black men were making millions of dollars hustling
America’s “War on Drugs”— on street corners. Crack cocaine generated surreal
life and death around West amounts of money; it also brought about heinous violence.
In order to keep their money coming in, drug dealers had
142nd Street and Lenox to protect their territory against rivals and would settle
Avenue in Harlem, New York, their disputes with semi-automatic gunfire, often killing
people in broad daylight on crowded streets.
was controlled by a drug
crew known as the 142nd Dozens of armed drug crews occupied an area of only
3.3 square miles. Harlem was like the Wild West where
Street Lynch Mob. lawlessness took over.
By 1990, law enforcement had created the FBI-C11

Violent Drug Task Force, an elite team comprised of NYPD
detectives, FBI officers, and other federal agents whose
sole purpose was to investigate these notorious gangsters
that were ruling the streets and dismantle the growing

number of violent drug trafficking organizations operating with cocaine. Shortly after, Griffin began providing Brown
in the New York City metropolitan area. with muscle. Griffin reportedly enlisted several of his
associates in the crew, including Farris Phillips, Clifford
By bringing the FBI in, the government was able “Hot Dog” Randall, John “John John” Johnson, Derek
to charge members of these gangs under the federal “Bootney” Razor, and Edward “Jab” Funches.
Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act
(RICO), which requires proof only that a suspect is part Although the new crew members already had their own
of an enterprise that committed a murder. A conspiracy drug spots, they had common suppliers and common
to commit murder conviction carries a sentence of life enemies; it made sense to join forces to protect their drug
without parole. territories. Harlem may have been where the 142nd Street
Lynch Mob got its start, but the crew was growing, and so
C-11 slowly worked its way through a drug crew's ranks: was its area of operation.
It would begin at the lower levels and identify all known
crew associates. Then, if any known member of these street
gangs was arrested anywhere, C-11 would be notified.
C-11 first identified the 142nd Street Lynch Mob as
The 142nd Street Lynch Mob was among C-11's operating a lucrative cocaine and crack business
targets. It was responsible for what was described as a in 1988, but it wasn't until October 27, 1994, that
five-year reign of terror in central Harlem that included Charles “Leon” Brown, the leader of the 142nd Street
murdering rival gangsters and terrorizing the neighborhood Lynch Mob, Chris Beatty, and a female crew member
surrounding Lenox Avenue and 142nd Street. Punishment were arrested and charged with five counts of various
for challenging the 142nd Street Lynch Mob’s control of narcotics offenses. Also on the complaint was Darran
the narcotics business in this area was swift and deadly. Sealy, who at the time evaded arrest.
Based on a compilation of government documents, Two weeks after his arrest, Brown began meeting with
court transcripts, and cooperating statements made by the government to explore a cooperation agreement.
the crew’s leader Charles "Leon" Brown and members Between November 10, 1994, and January 10, 1995—the
Anthony Pope, Vincent “Vance” Smith, Derek Razor, date he entered into a cooperation agreement—Brown
Edward “Jab” Funches, Ralph “Black” Wallace and Clifford met with the government 13 times to offer information
Randall, Don Diva Magazine has an exclusive, first hand, about criminal activity. During these "proffer" sessions,
never-before-reported account of the inner workings of the Brown provided detailed information about the structure
142nd Street Lynch Mob drug organization. and inner workings of the 142nd Street Lynch Mob’s
narcotics trafficking, plus numerous homicides, murder-
for-hires, and countless robberies committed by the
organization.
In the late 1980s, drug dealers, Charles “Leon” Brown and
Ralph “Black” Wallace teamed up in Harlem's 142nd Street Brown testified five times before the Grand Jury that
and Lenox Avenue area and started buying cocaine to- year—on January 30, February 1, 8, and 27, and on April
gether. They took the cocaine and cooked it into crack, and 3—to detail various activities of the 142nd Street Lynch
then split up to sell it from different locations in that area. Mob. He was directly responsible for getting 10 members
of the Lynch Mob arrested and eventually indicted, and
Brown, who allegedly directed and supervised the helped the government solve more than 30 previously
organization's narcotics activities, headed the crew that unsolved homicides.
would later be known as the 142nd Street Lynch Mob.
Wallace and Chris Beatty helped Brown run the day-to- That same year, on January 5, 1995, Brown and a
day operation and the crew’s spots. Wallace managed female associate worked with federal officers to capture
a number of drug spots that sold crack in green-topped Sealy. The female called Sealy under the guise that she
crack vials, while Duane Beatty, Chris’ brother, managed had a message from Brown, but when Sealy showed
spots where crack was sold in red-topped crack vials. up at a mall in New Jersey to meet the woman, he was
apprehended and taken into custody.
Darran Sealy was reportedly responsible for packaging
the narcotics for transport and retail sales. Based on Brown's statements, a superseding
indictment was issued adding Lynch Mob members Louis
In 1988, Wallace introduced his friend Louis “Homicide “Homicide Lou” Griffin and Vincent “Vance” Smith to
Lou” Griffin to Brown, who in turn started supplying Griffin Brown’s indictment. Griffin and Smith, who were already

Lynchmob members snuck into Harlem Hospital on March 11,

1994 in an attempt to complete a botched hit on a rival.
in custody at New York’s Metropolitan Correctional Center Brown told his uncle to stay away from Wallace and
(MCC) on felony possession of a weapon charges from an that Wallace's brothers were equally dangerous and would
incident on August 24, 1994, were re-arrested in their jail cell. attempt to retaliate.
Also in January 1995, a writ of habeas corpus was By this time Griffin, who was being held in federal
issued for Anthony Pope, a freelance gunman who was custody at MCC, had heard that Brown was cooperating,
serving a 17.5-year federal sentence for a bank robbery too. He sent Brown a letter through a girl they both knew
he committed in 1993. Immediately upon his arrival, Pope asking why he was cooperating. In the letter Griffin wrote,
entered into a cooperation agreement with the government “Death Before Betrayal,” which Brown took as a threat. He
on January 24. Between February and May, Pope was gave the feds a copy of the letter.
involved in three proffer sessions where he provided the
government with information concerning various criminal Then on June 21, 1995, crew members Wallace, Clifford
organizations and numerous homicides. “Hot Dog” Randall, Duane Beatty, Edward “Jab” Funches
and Derek “Bootney” Razor were apprehended and
charged on a sixth superseding indictment. Farris Phillips
and John “John John” Johnson who were both serving
prison sentences in the state of New York for unrelated
Approximately six months after Brown began crimes, were also arrested.
cooperating, word was getting around that he was
working with the government and getting people One month later, on July 21, 1995, in a superseding
indicted. On April 12, 1995, Brown's uncle visited him 86-count indictment, the federal government charged 10
in jail and told him that Ralph “Black” Wallace had members of the 142nd Street Lynch Mob—Griffin, Wallace,
confronted him on the street to ask about Brown's Farris Phillips, Randall, John “John John” Johnson,
cooperation with the government. Wallace told Brown's Razor, Funches, Duane and Chris Beatty, and Darran
uncle that he had a copy of the indictment against Alvin Sealy—with running a multi-million-dollar drug operation
“Butch” Goings, a major drug supplier in Harlem who that distributed large quantities of cocaine down the East
was connected to the 142nd Street Lynch Mob. The Coast from Harlem, New York, to Birmingham, Alabama,
indictment listed the confidential informants only as CI-1, between 1988 and the date of the indictment. The
CI-2 and CI-3, but Wallace said he knew it was Robert government also charged them with 15 murders and nine
Cherry, Vincent Smith, and Charles “Leon” Brown who attempted murders, though they believed the Lynch Mob
were testifying against Goings. was actually responsible for closer to 40 murders.

Lynchmob Headquarters @ 142nd Street and Lenox Avenue in Harlem
" We were about

the game and
we respected
the game... if we
had a problem
with guys in
the game then
we handled our
situation with
them... not the
women and
kids.
"
- Farris Phillips

March 1990 other ran, but only made it to 141st Street where Phillips
Ralph “Black” Wallace and a 16-year-old fellow Lynch finished him off.
Mob crew member, who was carrying approximately
500 green-capped vials of crack on 141st Street and 7th March 11, 1994
Avenue, were shot at in retaliation for John "John John" Charles "Leon" Brown and Lou "Homicide Lou" Griffin
Johnson killing a rival drug dealer on November 9, 1989. would occasionally buy drugs from a local drug supplier.
Wallace reportedly used the teenager as a human shield Brown always paid the supplier for the drugs he took
from the gunfire. The teenager died from his injuries and on consignment, but Lou would not pay him. Griffin told
Wallace was seriously injured. Brown that he did not have to pay the supplier either,
because he had no "juice" in the streets. Brown took
November 15, 1993 Griffin's advice and stopped paying the supplier. When
Harlem drug supplier Alvin “Butch Cassidy” Goings was word got back to Griffin and Brown that the supplier was
embroiled in a war with a local group of stick-up-kids who telling people he was going to kill them if he didn’t get his
had garnered a reputation for robbing and extorting other money, Griffin and Brown directed Farris Phillips to kill him.
drug dealers. They were extorting Goings by taking narcotics
from him on consignment and not paying him for them. Brown called the supplier to set up a meeting on
the pretense that he was going to pay him the money
Goings finally had enough and refused to supply the owed to him. Phillips and Randall drove over to 142nd
stick-up-kids with any more drugs, which ultimately Street where they spotted the supplier. Despite being
started a war. Goings' crew and the stick-up-kids would armed himself, Phillips shot him 15 times with a 9mm
get into shootouts at one of Goings' drug spots on 134th firearm. Miraculously, the man survived and was taken to
Street. He started losing money because every time the Harlem Hospital. Angry that the hit was not successful,
stick-up-kids came through the block blazing their guns, Brown sent Phillips and Smith to the hospital to finish
he had to shut down his spots. the job. They disguised themselves as medical personnel
to smuggle a knife into Harlem Hospital in an attempt
Goings approached Charles "Leon" Brown, to see if to finish the hit, but when they were approached by
he knew someone he could pay to kill the members of the hospital staff, they left.
stick-up crew. Ultimately, Goings put a hit out on them.
August 29, 1994
Then, during one shootout, the stick-up-kids caught A rival drug dealer had gotten his face slashed in an
Goings on 134th Street and were shooting at him with altercation and it was believed that Lou "Homicide Lou"
AK47s from the roof of a building. They missed Goings Griffin had something to do with the assault. The drug
but one of his crew was shot. Having heard of Louis dealer retaliated against the Lynch Mob by driving to 142nd
"Homicide Lou" Griffin’s reputation, Goings reportedly Street and shooting up Derek "Bootney" Razor's car.
contacted Brown and said: “Those little motherfuckers
were shooting at me from the roof.” Goings doubled the At 4:30 p.m. on August 29, 1994, while students at
price he put on the heads of the stick-up crew. Brown Columbia University were moving into their residences
then met with Farris Phillips, Griffin, and Vincent "Vance" prior to the start of classes, Griffin and Vincent "Vance"
Smith and it was decided that Phillips and Smith would Smith drove Griffin’s black BMW to 112th Street and
do the job. Broadway where they located the rival and Smith shot
him in the chest once before his gun jammed. The rival
Smith lured two of the stick-up-kids to the area dealer survived. Griffin and Smith split up when Smith
of 142nd Street and Lenox Avenue. They went along noticed a witness looking at him. Instead of running
unarmed because they believed that Brown was going back to the car, he ran to the subway at 110 Street
to start supplying them with narcotics since they were and took the train to 137th Street and Broadway, then
feuding with Goings. Smith walked them from 133rd and walked to 142nd Street and Lenox Avenue. When he
Lenox Avenue to 142nd Street and Lenox Avenue where arrived there, he saw Griffin being arrested. It was
Derek "Bootney" Razor opened fire and killed one. The Griffin’s last day on the Street.

December 18, 1997 He appealed the conviction and after serving three
" An accused New

York hitman known as
years on death row, Griffin was given a retrial. He was
acquitted on December 13, 2001.
Homicide Lou sat calmly

as a witness testified
as to how Lou and Vincent “Vance” Smith had been arrested two months
another man from a earlier, on August 31, 1994, and began cooperating
Harlem street gang with the government in February 1995. Smith gave the
government statements that implicated Derek "Bootney"
murdered an Alabama Razor in several murders, which led to him being
man over a drug dispute.

—The Birmingham News
" indicted. But on January 26, 1996, Smith admitted he lied
about Razor's involvement in each of the murders. He
further admitted that the reason he lied was because he
was jealous of Razor over a woman.
On December 18, 1997, Louis "Homicide Lou"
Griffin was convicted of murdering an individual in Anthony Pope began cooperating with the
Alabama over a drug dispute. By a vote of 10-2, the jury government on January 24, 1995. Pope would commit
recommended that Griffin be sentenced to death; he numerous breaches of his cooperation agreement by
was subsequently sentenced to die in Alabama’s electric claiming to have committed several murders in which he
chair on January 29, 1998. didn’t in order to gain favor with the government.

Based primarily on Pope’s information, Alvin “Butch NOTE: According to government documents and FBI 302
Cassidy” Goings was indicted on a charge of murder-for-hire Reports of Brown's proffer sessions, Brown also provided
for a murder Pope claimed he committed on Butch’s behalf. the government with information on Eric "Fat E" Edwards,
Eric "Von Zip" Martin, Kenny Wilson, Derek Augustine,
On January 2, 1996, through the statements of Charles Juan, Steven Powell, Deirdre Smith, Greg Sories, Carlton
“Leon” Brown, the government learned that Anthony Pope Williams, Tony Hendricks, Bernice Green, Tyrell Mackey,
had lied in his proffer sessions. He subsequently admitted Michael Mitchell, and World Autos in Wayne, N.J.
that Goings had nothing to do with the murder and that he
had in fact never even met Goings.
The murder-for-hire charge against Goings was The lies told by Brown, Pope, and Smith—the
dropped, but information provided by Brown, Smith, and government’s three main informants—caused significant
Robert Cherry formed the basis for a separate indictment and irreparable damage. In fact, the government
against Goings in March 1995; he was arrested and determined it couldn’t use them to testify because their
charged with conspiracy to distribute narcotics, various credibility would be in question. Any information they
gun charges, murder-for-hire, and heading a Continuing provided was now useless.
Criminal Enterprise (commonly referred to as CCE
Statute or The Kingpin Statute.) Now the government was faced with the task of
determining whether any other defendants in the Griffin
In May 1996, Goings pleaded guilty to participating in case were suitable for cooperation. Between February
a racketeering enterprise through, among other things, 1, 1996 and April 2, 1996—the day jury selection began
the murders of the two members of the stick-up crew in the Griffin case—three defendants (Wallace, Randall,
in November 1993. He also pleaded guilty to being the Razor) in the Griffin case and two defendants in related
leader of a CCE. His plea was entered pursuant to his cases pleaded guilty pursuant to cooperation agreements.
own cooperation agreement with the government. It was based on the expected testimony of these five new
cooperating witnesses—not the testimony of Brown, Pope,
It was later discovered that Brown also lied about his and Smith—that the government intended to proceed
involvement in several murders. In one instance, Brown against the remaining defendants in the Griffin case.
told the government that he was not involved in the
attempted murder of the drug supplier in Harlem Hospital Griffin, Phillips, and John “John John” Johnson
on March 11, 1994. Brown reportedly did not want to were charged with (among other things) committing
implicate his uncle who worked at the hospital and helped 15 murders in aid of racketeering. As to each of those
Farris Phillips and Vincent "Vance" Smith get into the murders, the proof against each defendant relied almost
facility by supplying them with hospital scrubs. entirely on the credibility of cooperating witnesses. Even
with the five new cooperators, the government was
On March 7, 1996, the prosecutor officially rescinded unable to proceed against the remaining defendants
Brown's plea deal. Brown filed a motion attempting on several of the drug and murder charges due to the
to force the government to honor his cooperation discrediting of Brown, Pope, and Smith.
agreement. In it he said:
Additionally, without Brown's testimony, the government
"I began cooperating with the government was unable to prosecute fully Chris Beatty and Darran
immediately after my arrest. It was clear to me from Sealy, who had worked closely with Brown in his narcotics
conversations with the government that most of the operation. Beatty, who had acted as a confidant and
information I was providing about murders, attempted manager of Brown’s narcotics operation, accepted a plea
murder, drug suppliers and the drug operation in which I that carried a maximum of four years in prison.
was involved was new.
I provided them with detailed information that resulted

in the indictment of Ralph "Black" Wallace, Farris Phillips,
COMING SOON
Cliff "Hot Dog" Randall, John "John John" Johnson, Derek VISIT DONDIVAMAG.COM TO VIEW THE
"Bootney" Razor, Duane Beatty, a drug supplier named Nu
Nu, Louis "Homicide Lou" Griffin, Anthony Pope, Vincent
142ND STREET LYNCH MOB
DOCUMENTARY
"Vance" Smith, Alvin "Butch" Goings"…I also told them
information that assisted them in the indictment of Kevin
Chiles, another major Harlem distributor. I gave them
information about a murder committed by Fred Black."
Louis "Homicide Lou" Griffin
" I was on an 86-count

indictment and the
government was
seeking the death
penalty... I copped
in the middle of trial
when I heard that Leon
Brown, Pope and Vance
got their 5k1 snitch
agreements ripped up
for lying
"
-Louis Griffin
Sealy, who had stored Brown’s drugs and guns in his

apartment, and who had conducted numerous hand-to-
hand sales of cocaine for Brown, pleaded guilty to two
narcotics counts. As a result, his sentencing guidelines
range was 10 to 11.5 years in prison. Prior to Brown violating
his cooperation agreement, the government expected it
would be able to prove that Beatty and Sealy had dealt with
multiple kilograms of cocaine and crack. Their sentences
could have ranged from 20 years to life in prison.
Johnson pleaded guilty to a racketeering count, and he

was charged with participating in the conspiracy of two
murders. He also pleaded guilty to a firearms violation.
Johnson was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Duane Beatty had his case severed. He was convicted

at trial on narcotics charges and was sentenced to 12
years in prison.
As jury selection for the Griffin case began on April 2, DD What was your relationship like with Leon?
1996, Louis "Homicide Lou" Griffin and Farris Phillips, Lou Griffin: It was all love, never in a million years would
both of whom faced life in prison if convicted, were offered I have thought he would do what he did to me, especially
pleas in large part due to the inability of the government so early in the stage of us getting locked up. Even when
to call their key witnesses. The most culpable defendant— my codefendant Darran came in on a superseding
Griffin, who was charged with participating in 10 murders indictment saying Leon set him up to get locked up on
and 2 attempted murders—was given a statutory cap our fed case, I still didn’t want to believe it, and defended
on his sentence of 30 years in prison. Phillips, who was him. Leon Brown is a dude that I would defend when
charged with participating in eight murders and seven women and other dudes would say he changed since
attempted murders, pleaded guilty to his involvement in me and him got together. Our love for each other grew
four murders and one attempted murder. He was given a stronger over the years. The more money we made, the
statutory cap on his sentence of 28 years in prison. stronger the love we had for each other was- to the point
that I wouldn’t let anyone say anything wrong about him.
In retaliation for their lies and destroying the We were buying cars and jewelry for each other- it was
prosecutors' case, Charles "Leon" Brown, Anthony Pope, the norm without it even being a holiday. If he was buying
and Vincent “Vance” Smith were sentenced to life in prison him a piece, or saw a piece i'd like, he'd buy it, and vice
with no chance of parole. versa.

DD Do you have any regrets? Lou Griffin: I feel that it’s political bullshit just so the
Lou Griffin: My only regret is that I didn't take heed to media could take notice of certain cases. Around the time
what people would say to me about certain individuals I I went down, several other crews were also taken down
surrounded myself with from females I went to school with including Preacher’s crew and Kevin Chiles. It was a joint
or messed with to different dudes also in the game. My task force with federal and state law enforcement called
mind is really focused on what's important- getting home 'Operation Harlem Knights' that went after all of us.
to my kids and family, and raising my grandkids to get back
some of the time I missed out on raising my own kids. DD Describe what has become known as “the
crack era” in Harlem.
DD You have been in jail for over Lou Griffin: In 1988 I was released from New York State
20 years, what has that been like? bid. Money was plentiful. After spending most of my
Lou Griffin: You would think that after 21 years I’d be teens in prison I came home hungry, and I was playing
used to these inhumane conditions that I've been forced catch up for all the years I missed. People in my age group
to live under, but as each year goes by, it gets worse. were getting money, but not like the older cats I watched
as a kid in the 1970's, but still it was good money.
DD What is the hardest part of being
incarcerated? DD What did the word LOYALTY mean
Lou Griffin: Watching my kids grow up in pictures, and when you were on the street?
being transfered all around the United States, where the Lou Griffin: To keep it 100, You had snitches but it was
cost of a visit is what amounts to going on vacation. more undercover. I was not as out there, or in your face
as much as it is now. Back then, you didn’t know until trial
DD Where did the name 'Lynch Mob' come from? who was telling, now you know at the time of arrest. From
Lou Griffin: We started throwing bus rides to Great what I witnessed there was more loyalty to your crew,
Adventures every summer back in the early 90's. Ice Cube your man and the game in the 1970's then it weakened in
was one of the hottest rappers back then, we had some the 1980's, then disappeared from the 1990's on. People
shirts made, and the name stuck. Ironically using the don’t realize them old cats in the 1970’s got so much
name Lynch Mob, allowed the government to label us as a more money because there was more loyalty as far as
gang, and that helped the RICO charges stick. living by the code of the streets (not snitching). Everybody
ain't built with the morals and the principles that once
DD Word is that you have gotten into a lot of governed the streets. But during my 21 years, there are
violent incidents in jail - assaults, stabbings etc. still some stand up men around, both young and old, but
Describe some of your jail incidents: we are out numbered.
Lou Griffin: Let’s just say I've spent more time on lock-
down than in population. I have been to every lock down DD Why did you take a plea in your RICO case?
program that the federal bureau of prisons has from con- Lou Griffin: I was on an 86-count indictment and the
trol units, SMU, to Marion. The only one I’ve never been government was seeking the death penalty. Each count
to is ADX. carried a life sentence. I copped out in the middle of trial
when I heard from another informant that Leon Brown,
DD Clarence “Preacher” Heatley - who was Anthony Pope, and Vance Smith got their 5k1 snitch
known as the Black Hand of Death was on the plea agreements ripped up for lying. At the same time
street at the same time as you and the Lynch Mob. I heard that Ralph 'Black' Wallace, Clifford 'Hotdog'
Did you have any issues with Preacher’s Crew Randall, Derek 'Bootney' Razor along with Johnny
while you were both on the streets together? Spraggs who started the alabama case against me, were
Lou Griffin: He and I never had a personal beef. In fact, also cooperating. I realized I was in a no win situation
our cases go hand and hand. A lot of things mentioned in because now I had more people testifying against me
my case are also mentioned in his. People on the street than I thought. For the record, there were 5 of us that
tried to work us against each other. In my indictment, three copped out in the middle of trial without cooperating,
people who defected out of his crew on three different that’s Chris Beatty, Darren Sealy, John 'John John'
occasions, tried to turn me against him once they fell out Hobby, Farris Phillips and myself.
with him. In fact, I warned him before his arrest about what
was in my discovery paperwork concerning him. DD What happened in your Alabama State
murder-for-hire case that landed you on death
DD The government claims that the murder rate row? How did you get off death row?
around Harlem went down when you got locked up. Lou Griffin: After I was sentenced in the federal court in
How do you feel about that? New York, I learned that the federal prosecutor contacted

the state prosecutors for each state we were moving supported you during your time of incarceration?
around in. They were noting the crimes that we commit- Lou Griffin: I have a very bitter taste for those out there
ted in each one of these states. Only the state of Alabama that should’ve been checking for me, but I'm not mad at
decided to pick up the case and charge me with a murder them because I don't want them mad at me when I come
for hire. I spent 3 years on death row from 1997 to 2000. home and do me. But to answer the question- Dame
I got the case overturned because they used my federal Dash paid for two of my federal appeals. Jule Rutledge
plea agreement as evidence against me in this Alabama paid for my capital re-trial. Recently, Dame was shopping
state case and that is illegal. They also wouldn’t let me to get a movie/book deal, but passed the idea to Cam'ron,
use the fact that someone else plead out to the same who’s shopping the deal around now. Above all, my two
murder. On re-trial I received a lot of evidence I didn't sisters Renee Brown, and Rudy Sims have been here
have at the 1st trial. I learned that two females were will- 100% from day 1. My co-defendants Darran and Beatty
ing to testify against the dude who plead guilty to the and I must shout out Mike Brock.
murder. They identified the shooter as a dude they went
to school with. Johnny Spraggs was an informant for the Lou’s Shout Outs:
state of Alabama all along, committing crimes which they Thanks to ALLAH for the blessings he continues to rain
were letting him get away with. His federal statements on me! Shout out to all my co-de(s) that stood strong:
conflicted with his statements in the Alabama case. In C.Beatty, Darran, John-John, Baby Boy Farris. My brother
order for them to get capital murder-for-hire in the state of Kite, nephew Danny Blue, Green Eyes, Shawn, the homies
Alabama they had to show I was paid for the murder. But Solo, Chicken Rob, Coco, Jule and Troy Rutledge, Jimmy
in his federal statements Spraggs said he gave me money Fingers, Fat Shi, Skinny Moe, Q, Shikim, Jungle, A.D.,
for me and my co-defendant Ralph 'Toon' Bimbo to go Jerry Mccullin, Spidy, Ice, Stan, and my DC. homies Kev
shopping in Alabama. In his statement in my federal case Grey, Titus, Nick, Black Ty, Cardo, We We, Moe B, Little
Spragg said the money was the money Toon owed me for Jenny, Mad Dog, L.A., Bo Banger, my lil Cleveland man
drugs but in the statement for the state, he said he was Kyron 'Roc' Marlin and the women that held me down:
paying me for the murder. my sis Ruby, Jerry, Renee Brown, Fe Fe, Yo Yo, and my
kids that are preparing for me to come - Lou Jr., Chanelle,
DD Who are some of the people that influenced Tootie and Essence.
you in the streets when you were growing up?
Lou Griffin: WOW! There were so many that influenced
me growing up. There were so many millionaires back
Farris Phillips
then- I'd be here all day naming them. But having a
household name personally in my house growing up, my
brother Billy “Kite” Sims, that’s who I really looked up
to. I always say he's my better half, because growing up
I always wanted to be the “get money fly guy” he was.
As I got older my take on the streets was different. I was DD Who did you look up to when
more of a “get money go home” with a bottle of bubbly you were coming up?
and a chick than the flashy party type like him. Where he Farris Phillips: The people that influence me the most
had all the love from the young to the old as far as doing were Georgie Fluellen, the West Brothers, Cisco, Robert
business, there was a lot of mistrust towards me. Paul, Billy Underwood and Eddie Lee. The reason why is
because these guys were not your typical drug dealers.
DD Was there ever a rule that certain people Most of them were educated and business minded.
couldn't come across 135th Street without the
permission of the Lynch Mob? DD What was the best part
Lou Griffin: Yeah. I hear they threw a party to celebrate of your run in the streets?
when we got sentenced. Farris Phillips: The power and the respect. The ability to
be able to go places and do what you wanted to do.
DD What do you remember about preparing
yourself for your RICO trial? DD How did you and Lou get together?
Lou Griffin: During pretrial, I noticed every time we Farris Phillips: Me and Lou became close because I was
would go to court to argue a motion, one or two of my co- going through a situation at the time that he was aware
defendants would stop showing up, which made me realize of. During that time I was not strong enough to handle
the case against me was growing stronger, and stronger. that situation by myself. With him by my side I was able to
handle it. That is why I have so much love and respect for
DD Who are some of the people who have him today. My situation was a matter of life and death.

Farris Phillips and Lou Griffin August 29, 1994, on 112th and Broadway, near Columbia University, Lynch Mob
members attempted to execute a rival drug dealer.
DD How did you meet Leon?

Farris Phillips: I met Leon through Lou. He also was she got in the car with me and we drove down the block
aware of my situation and with his input it helped me and I found a parking spot. Then we went up stairs and
resolve the situation. After that we became close. had a couple of drinks. She told me that she was hungry.
I asked her what did she want to eat. She told me White
DD Have you ever been shot? Castle and in my head I'm like WOW I don't eat White
Farris Phillips: I have been shot 2 different times. The Castle. I was trying to be nice so I took her to White
first time that I was shot, I was on 129th street walking to Castle. On our way to the car, as we were walking down
my car. I felt someone coming up behind and as I turned the street, a guy runs from behind us and shoots another
around I was shot two times in my chest first, which spun guy 6 to 8 times. She is screaming and I'm holding her.
me around and then I got shot two more times in my back. The guy runs and leaves. We get in the car and I asked her
Then the last shot hit me in my hip, which was the only was she still hungry. She said yes so I proceeded to go to
shot that actually penetrated my body because at the time White Castle. When we were in White Castle she ordered
I was wearing a bulletproof vest. the food that she wanted. As I go to pay for it I looked to
the right and noticed a guy coming in the door with a gun
The second time I was shot, I was riding around one night in his hand. I took off through the door to the left of me.
and I was coming down 7th Avenue. It was around 1:30 As I was running out of the door he shot twice and one hit
AM and there were a bunch of females in front of the me in my lower back and came out of my stomach. I ran
projects trying to catch a cab. As I stopped at the red light to Jimmy's the restaurant and looked out of the window
I was approached by three of the females. One of them towards White Castle. I seen the guy that shot me come
looked in the car and said “yo he looks cool can you drop out of White Castle and jumped in a car and drive off.
our friend off.” I looked at the friend and seen that she After he drove off I ran back to White Castle, the girl was
was a nice looking girl. I said sure. The girl got in the car. standing in front of my car and we both got in and drove
I asked her where she was going. She told me the Bronx. for 5 to 10 minutes. After a few minutes I started getting
When we got to her house we exchanged numbers. A dizzy and seen a police car. I pulled in front of the police
week later, she called me and we hooked up. I went to her car and they jumped out with their guns drawn. I opened
house and she was waiting for me in front of her building. my door and told them that I just got shot. They pulled me
I could not find a parking spot in front of her building so out of the car and called the ambulance.

about the game and we respected the game and the men
that played the game. So if we had a problem with guys
in the game, then we handled our situation with them and
not the women and the kids.
DD What has been the worst thing for you having

been incarcerated for over 20 years?
Farris Phillips: It's a sad situation in the federal system.
There is a lot of good brothers in here doing a lot of time
that they don't deserve. The overcrowding and being
placed in prisons that are so far away from the city is just
sad all together. The mentality of the guys that are coming
in now is sad too. They really think that they were doing
something big on the street and are having trouble just
getting soup out of commissary. Really sad.
DD Do you keep in touch with the co-defendants

on your case that stood up?
Farris Phillips: Me, Lou and Beatty always keep in
touch. We miss the hell out of John John too.
DD How long have you been in prison and what

Farris Phillips, Jr., Farris Phillips and Chris Beatty has been the worst part?
Farris Phillips: I have been down 21 years. The worst
part has been not being able to provide or be there for my
DD What do you remember about being in Pre- family.
trial?
Farris Phillips: Well this one here is close to home. Me, DD Did you make up the rule that people couldn’t
Lou and my co-defendants were in a holding cell waiting cross 135th street without a problem?
to go to court. In the holding cell next to us was Kevin Farris Phillips: Of course I made that rule. The reason
Chiles and his co-defendants who were also indicted by that I implemented the rule was because if there was a
C-11 at that same time as us. We were all having small situation with us, then you were not allowed in that area.
talk through the cells. When it was time for them to go to So cross 135th Street at your own risk.
court, Kevin and his co-defendants stepped out of the
holding cell and were dressed to the nine. Lou noticed
Kevin first and what he was wearing. He had the big block
gators on, black slacks and a button up shirt. I seen that
he was gangster ready. So Lou looked at me and said, I'm
ordering gators too, because I don't know when will be
the next time that I'm going to be able to dress up like that
again. With that he told us all to order gators so we all can
be gangster ready too.
DD How would you compare the era that you

came up in to the guys that you came up under?
Farris Phillips: In the 70’s there was a lot of violence
going on in the city. That was the nature of the streets
back then, but the violence that took place didn’t typically
affect women and children. It was kept with the men that
were in the game. In our day there was a lot of disorder
in the game with people doing dumb shit to kids and Lynchmob members used the pager code 142357 to let other members
women. As far as us, we weren't about that. We were know to bring a 357 handgun to 142nd Street to "put in work."

Written By: Ryan Smith
Son of a Gun
The Lynch Mob ruled the streets of New York City in the 90’s. son of Charles Leon Brown, disgraced leader of the Lynch
They used brutality and intimidation to keep their drug empire Mob. Faybach and Clips were cordial in the street before
going and Farris Philips was the main muscle. When he was sent (even though Clips’s father snitched on his father to send
away for 28 years for his deeds, he left a family behind. His son, him away) until Clips had a battle with T-Rex hosted by
Fabian, better known by Faybach, was only five years old when SMACK/Urban Rap League. Clips retaliated to T-Rex
he got locked up. Instead of following in his father’s footsteps and calling his father a snitch by offering $8,000 to anybody
pursuing a life of crime, Faybach has concentrated his efforts in
who could provide the paperwork proving it. Naturally,
the booth as a rapper.
Faybach had an issue with this. “At first, I didn’t blame him
for anything his father did, but now you’re saying you have
$8K for anybody with the paperwork when you know I have
the paperwork. You’re showing traits of you father,” stated
F
aybach, hailing from Lenox Ave. in Harlem, he Faybach. In response to Clips’s antics, Faybach released a
credits 90’s rap legends such as Tupac, Nas, diss track about him on Youtube entitled, “Son of a Snitch.”
Big L, Jay Z and Cam’ron as his main influences
and tries to summon that energy for his music. He says he reached out to Clips to clear the air, but
“My music is about all my personal experiences growing things didn’t work out. “People on the streets feel some
up in the hood. Just things that I went through, things my type of way and were calling my phone for the paperwork.
peers went through, things my father went through. Things I told him, just give me $4K and he changed his number on
everybody can relate to in every hood around the world,” me like a real bitch ass nigga instead of being a real man.
he described. “ It’s real. It’s not a lot of that stuff out here. I’m not a battle rapper, but I just put it out there for the
It’s not party music. It’s real music.” streets to know.”
Faybach always heard what his dad went through from Faybach is making plans for himself and Boss Family.
people on the streets. “I’ve always heard it growing up He is prepping his mixtape, “Faybach By Any Means”
from other people, but I didn’t really know why he was for the summer, as well as the World War 9 compilation
incarcerated until I got older. When I got older, I could ask featuring artists such as Tywild. On his future endeavors,
questions and he could confirm things for me,” he said. he says, “Expect real music. I’m bringing back that real hip-
hop. That era where you had to rap about something with
Though it turns out a lot of what he heard was tall-tales, substance. It’s just going to be real street music.”
he was proud that people were talking about his father
like that. “It made me feel a lot of different ways. On one
hand, I didn’t have my father, so that hurt me that he was
in prison,” he said. “On the other hand, when I hear about
his reputation and that he was respected, since I grew up
in the streets, it felt good, because he was one of the stand
up dudes in that situation. So, I was proud of my father for
being the person that he is.”
In his younger years, Faybach found himself on the

wrong end of the law, racking up charges of robbery and
assault. Thankfully, talks with his father and uncles deterred
him from that life. His father’s reputation on the street was
a contributing factor to avoiding the pitfalls of the street. Contact info:
“I felt like I didn’t have to prove anything,” explained
Lynchmob142@gmail.com
Faybach. “People told me my father did that, so I don’t
have to do that. That credibility is there. I have to make a IG: @Faybach
name for myself in my own lane.”
Youtube: Faybach
None of his father's beefs have ever been an issue
for Faybach, however, he found himself in some rap beef
with fellow New York rapper, Charlie Clips. Clips is the

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44_55_HellInHarlem.

qxd 2/2/10 6:26 AM Page 44

IN HARL For almost a decade, rumors and

mutually agreeable terms on where Donnell would be exchanged for the

125th street on Broadway in Manhattan. He told them to look under the

JANUARY 28TH 1990

JANUARY 4TH 1990 JANUARY 29TH 1990

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48 D O N D I V A M A G A Z I N E www.dondivamag.com / Volume.11, Issue: 40 - 10 th Anniversary 1-877-366-3482

52 D O N D I V A M A G A Z I N E www.dondivamag.com / Volume.11, Issue: 40 - 10 th Anniversary 1-877-366-3482

RICH PORTER’S MOTHER

First let me start by saying that I am

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US $4.99 Canada $6.99 UK $ 3.99

46 D O N D I V A M A G A Z I N E WWW.DONDIVAMAG.COM / VOLUME.7 ISSUE 30 1-877-366-3482

48 D O N D I V A M A G A Z I N E www.dondivamag.com / Volume.7 Issue 30 1-877-366-3482

cop $6,000,000 worth of cocaine. The deal was to put

52 D O N D I V A M A G A Z I N E www.dondivamag.com / Volume.7 Issue 30 1-877-366-3482

Everybody wants to be the man until it’s time to be a man.

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Kevin’s 1987 Custom Mercedez Benz shipped from Germany

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The KEVIN CHILES Story

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Kevin’s home in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey

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The YAYO Story (continued) The KEVIN CHILES Story (continued)

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26 D O N D I V A M A G A Z I N E www.dondivamag.com / Volume №21, Issue: 56

(L to R) Farris Phillips, Vincent "Vance" Smith, Kite (Lou's

The New York Times, New his 10-year stretch birthed

By 1990, law enforcement had created the FBI-C11

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Lynchmob members snuck into Harlem Hospital on March 11,

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" We were about

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" An accused New

Homicide Lou sat calmly

man over a drug dispute.

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I provided them with detailed information that resulted

" I was on an 86-count

Sealy, who had stored Brown’s drugs and guns in his

Johnson pleaded guilty to a racketeering count, and he

Duane Beatty had his case severed. He was convicted

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DD How did you meet Leon?

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DD What has been the worst thing for you having

DD Do you keep in touch with the co-defendants

DD How long have you been in prison and what

DD How would you compare the era that you

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In his younger years, Faybach found himself on the

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