Indictment
On July 19, 2005, federal prosecutors announced racketeering and narcotics charges against thirteen CMB leaders, members, and associates. The case included crack distribution, murder, attempted murder of a witness, kidnapping and attempted robbery of a drug dealer, assault, and firearms offenses.
Investigation
The indictment followed an 18-month joint investigation involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the FBI, the NYPD, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.
Hardy and Granton Trial
After lengthy proceedings, Damion Hardy and Aaron Granton were convicted in April 2015. Their convictions included racketeering, multiple murders in aid of racketeering, kidnapping, and narcotics offenses. They received multiple life sentences in May 2015.
Appeal
The Second Circuit affirmed the judgments in August 2017, rejecting challenges involving competency, anonymous-jury procedures, evidentiary rulings, and sufficiency of the evidence.