Officials announced Monday that the Department of Justice has secured the indictment of 14 defendants on more than 120 criminal charges stemming from their involvement in the Wilmington-area gang NorthPak.
The indictment is the culmination of a six-month long investigation involving the Department of Justice, Wilmington Police Department, and New Castle County Police Department, with support from the Delaware State Police, the Delaware Department of Correction, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
“Gun violence has devastated families across Wilmington and gangs play an outsized role in that carnage,” said Attorney Kathy General Jennings. “Disrupting gang activity is critical to restoring public safety in Wilmington, and that requires complicated, resource-intensive investigations. This was not an easy job for law enforcement, but from the beginning, Wilmington and New Castle County were in with both feet. It’s thanks to their tenacity, and to our excellent partners at the state and federal level, that we can announce this indictment and that the DOJ can pursue justice for the terror and bloodshed that NorthPak has caused.”
“These indictments, and the serious charges they have brought against those responsible for violence in our communities, are the result of intensive, ongoing multi-jurisdictional partnerships that our agency has with local, state and federal partners,” said Wilmington Police Chief Robert J. Tracy. “Through the implementation of evidence-based, proven crime reduction strategies, we have had great success identifying those responsible for driving gun violence in our City and throughout Delaware. Indictments like these – the results of tireless investigations – help to prevent future violence and enhance public safety, while sending a clear and powerful message that gun violence and illegal gun possession will not be tolerated.”
Chief Tracy added that the indictments are also the result of enforcement efforts through Group Violence Intervention (GVI). “Through GVI, we blend the provision of social services and sharing of the moral voice of the community in an attempt to direct individuals away from crime and violence driven by senseless conflicts. Those who heed those warnings are provided support, while those who continue to engage in violence are held responsible through our enforcement efforts.”
“We are very pleased to partner with our Delaware law enforcement entities to identify and arrest those responsible for an increase in violent crime in our state,” said New Castle County Police Chief Col. Vaughn M. Bond, Jr. “Through these efforts violent offenders have been removed from our communities and the devastated families of our victims have the answers they deserve. Our state still has a significant challenge ahead in terms of violent crime. That being said, the New Castle County Police Division of Police will continue to work closely with all Delaware law enforcement and our communities to prevent, decrease and solve crimes. “
“The NorthPak gang thought they could steal lives and escape unscathed. These indictments should send a clear message to gang members and their associates that this type of violence and senseless murder will not be tolerated,” said Rachel Byrd, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Baltimore Field Office. “The citizens of Delaware have the FBI’s commitment that we will work with our local, state and federal partners to target and dismantle violent street gangs that threaten the safety and stability of our neighborhoods.”
“The kind of violence committed by this gang yields nothing but terror and pain for citizens held hostage by their actions. A gun in the hands of someone who has made the decision to live a life of crime is a constant and serious threat to anyone they encounter. Many of these defendants in this case are charged with not only using firearms to brutalize the community, but also with being prohibited from having those firearms in the first place,” said ATF Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Tim Jones. “ATF will continue working relentlessly alongside our local, state, and federal partners to reduce gun crime and arrest the violent offenders who prevent Delaware communities from thriving.”
Between November 11, 2018 and April 21, 2021, members of NorthPak are alleged to have committed crimes including the murder of at least six victims –
– and the attempted murder of several others.
The full list of defendants and charges is as follows:
- Elijah Coffield – 18-Years-Old
- Illegal Gang Participation
- Two counts of Murder First Degree (Ollier Henry, Shareef Hamilton)
- Four counts of Attempted Murder First Degree
- Four count of Conspiracy First Degree
- One count of Reckless Endangering First Degree
- One count of Attempted Assault in a Detention Facility
- Eight counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
- Four counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited
- Gregory Wing – 19-Years-Old
- Illegal Gang Participation
- Two counts of Murder First Degree (Ollier Henry, Taquan Davis)
- Four counts of Attempted Murder First Degree
- Three counts of Conspiracy First Degree
- Attempted Assault in a Detention Facility
- Seven counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
- Juvenile 1
- Illegal Gang Participation
- Murder First Degree (Dakevis Reed)
- Attempted Murder First Degree
- Conspiracy First Degree
- Two counts of Conspiracy Second Degree
- Receiving Stolen Property
- Disregarding a Police Officer’s Signal
- Three counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
- Two counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited
- Juvenile 2
- Illegal Gang Participation
- Murder First Degree (Dakevis Reed)
- Attempted Murder First Degree
- Conspiracy First Degree
- Conspiracy Second Degree
- Receiving Stolen Property
- Three counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
- Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited
- Juvenile 3
- Illegal Gang Participation
- Murder First Degree (Taron Whaley)
- Attempted Murder First Degree
- Conspiracy First Degree
- Three counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
- Juvenile 4
- Illegal Gang Participation
- Murder First Degree (Taron Whaley)
- Attempted Murder First Degree
- Conspiracy First Degree
- Three counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
- Davine Boyce – 22-Years-Old
- Illegal Gang Participation
- Murder First Degree (Stephan Price)
- Two counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
- Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited
- Caleb Lancaster – 18-Years-Old
- Illegal Gang Participation
- Attempted Murder First Degree
- Conspiracy First Degree
- Two counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
- Possession of a Firearm During by a Person Prohibited
- Juvenile 5
- Illegal Gang Participation
- Robbery First Degree
- Assault First Degree
- Three counts of Conspiracy Second Degree
- Receiving Stolen Property
- Disregarding a Police Officer’s Signal
- Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
- Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited
- Resisting Arrest
- Criminal Mischief
- Rashawn George – 18-Years-Old
- Illegal Gang Participation
- Robbery First Degree
- Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon
- Two counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
- Dion Young – 18-Years-Old
- Illegal Gang Participation
- Conspiracy Second Degree
- Attempted Assault in a Detention Facility
- Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
- Juvenile 6
- Illegal Gang Participation
- Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
- Amire Pierce – 18-Years-Old
- Illegal Gang Participation
- Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
- Malik Benson – 20-Years-Old
- Illegal Gang Participation
- Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony