A member of the Crips Street Gang, arrested in Operation Dead End, was sentenced on Wednesday to 47 years in prison.

“This prison sentence should send a strong message that we are serious about cracking down on the violence, property crimes, and drug dealing that has plagued the neighborhoods of Asbury Park and Neptune,” Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said.

Crips street gang member Haneef Walker, 25, of Asbury Park, was sentenced before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Joseph W. Oxley to an aggregate 47 years in a New Jersey state prison with a 28 years, one month and 24 days period of parole ineligibility before he can be released.

“We will continue to prosecute the perpetrators of the violence that is plaguing our cities,” Gramiccioni said.

The Operation Dead End investigation started in the summer of 2013 in conjunction with law enforcement efforts to stem violent street crimes and firearms offenses in Asbury Park. During the investigation, members of the criminal organization and their conspirators based their criminal activities out of two dead end streets in Asbury Park — Dewitt Avenue, and a section of Jersey Street in the Washington Village Public Housing Complex.

This is the second sentencing in as many days tied to convictions as part of the 14-month investigation.

Yesterday, former Asbury Park police officer Keith German was sentenced to 10 years in a New Jersey state prison without parole for his involvement with a drug distribution ring.

German, 49, of Tinton Falls and a 16-year veteran of the Asbury Park Police Department, used his official position to assist the members of the Bloods, a violent criminal street gang, in avoiding detection and prosecution by providing them with confidential law enforcement information, including on one occasion, unlawfully accessing a law enforcement database. As part of his sentence, German is permanently barred from holding any public position in the state.

The case background … 

The lengthy investigation revealed that members of the criminal organization acted together on numerous occasions to commit a series of armed robberies, residential burglaries, and thefts, and included an organized shoplifting ring that had an established relationship with the owners of a local pawn shop.

The investigation further exposed that members of the criminal organization regularly conspired to commit several different firearms-related offenses, including unlawfully possessing firearms, transferring guns between various members of the criminal organization, and targeting rival gang members and enemies for shootings.

Members of the criminal organization supported their criminal activities by distributing narcotics including cocaine, heroin, oxycodone, and “molly,” a form of ecstasy.

In September 2017, Walker was found guilty of 25 separate charges: one count of first-degree racketeering conspiracy, two counts of second-degree conspiracy to commit robbery, second-degree attempted armed robbery, four counts of second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, three counts of second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, second-degree conspiracy to commit shoplifting as part of an organized retail theft enterprise, second-degree shoplifting as part of an organized retail theft enterprise, third-degree fencing, two counts of second-degree conspiracy to possess a weapon for an unlawful purpose, third-degree conspiracy to commit aggravated assault — bodily injury with a deadly weapon, third-degree aggravated assault — attempt to cause bodily injury to another with a deadly weapon, second-degree unlawful possession of a community gun, and several third-degree drug charges, including conspiracy to possess cocaine, possession of cocaine, conspiracy to possess heroin, conspiracy to possess Methylone a/k/a “Molly”, and conspiracy to distribute Oxycodone.

The case was prosecuted by Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutors Matthew Bogner and Joseph Cummings.

Walker is represented by George Mardinly, Esq., of Rumson.

— Edited press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office