Say Bloods in prison still control organization

Wednesday, November 19, 2008
NEWHOUSE NEWS SERVICE

Imprisoned leaders of the Bloods street gang - with the help of corrupt corrections officers and staff as well as visitors - are remaining in control of the criminal organization through the use of cellphones smuggled into New Jersey's state prisons and county jails and by manipulating prison phones, State Commission of Investigation agents said yesterday.

The agents also said inmate accounts, intended to be used to pay for snacks or sending and receiving small amounts of money, are being used by imprisoned Bloods to transfer payments extorted from prisoners to purchase drugs and cellphones.

Bloods also control the trafficking of cell phones and drugs within the prisons, the agents said.

"The largest and fastest growing street gang in New Jersey, the Bloods control drugs and cellphones in an unmonitored system and control the flow of money in and out of the prisons," said SCI Special Agent Willie Byrd.