An Essex County gang member who admitted ordering others to kill was sentenced Monday to 28 years in prison, authorities said.
Jason Franklin, 41, of Newark, pleaded guilty earlier this year for his role in a racketeering conspiracy, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of New Jersey.
Franklin was a member of the Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips gang from at least 2015 through Sept. 22, 2022, the office said.
Members and associates of the Rollin’ 60s engaged in, or controlled, drug trafficking and other criminal activities in various neighborhoods and public-housing complexes in and around Newark and Irvington, federal prosecutors said.
Franklin was one of the leaders of the group and ordered others to kill, often for retaliation, investigators said.
In one case, on March 20, 2019, in Irvington, Franklin ordered other gang members to murder another person, in retaliation for the murder of a member of the Rollin’ 60s, the office said.
In early April 2021, Franklin ordered other Crips to retaliate against rival gang members, which resulted in the April 5, 2021, attempted murder of another person who survived the shooting, authorities said.
Franklin was indicted in 2021 along with two other members of the Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips but was not caught until later, authorities said.
One of the other gang members, Elijah Williams, of Newark was also sentenced to 28 years in prison in 2024. The third, Tre Byrd, received a 12-year prison sentence last year.
Stories by Chris Sheldon
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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.