PENNSYLVANIA – A 12-count federal indictment was returned Monday by a grand jury in Williamsport charging defendants with conspiracy to distribute heroin, crack cocaine and other drug and firearms crimes, officials said.
The defendants charged are Alphonso Batten, aka “Bugatti” and “Boo,” 27, of Williamsport; Theodore Shockley III, aka “Glock,” 22, of Williamsport; Steven Oliver Singletary, aka “Steven Carter,” 27, of Williamsport; Sharif Jones, “aka “Reef” and “Chief Reed,” “Bucketz,” 22, Williamsport and Maliki Hassan Chapman, aka “Terrence Wallace,” 27, Philadelphia.
The five men, who were known as the “Tat-Gang,” allegedly used mobile phones, social media, three addresses in Williamsport, and multiple motor vehicles to distribute drugs, authorities said. The co-conspirators allegedly bought, sold, traded, and possessed firearms in exchange for cash and controlled substances and to facilitate the distribution of controlled substances.
The case was investigated by the FBI.
Batten, Shockley, and Jones were indicted previously in September 2014, officials said.
The superseding indictment includes a new co-defendant, Maliki Chapman, who is charged with conspiring with the other defendants to distribute heroin, crack cocaine, and cocaine powder.
The indictment alleges that from January 2010 through the date of the indictment the co-conspirators distributed heroin, crack cocaine, and cocaine to drug users and sellers in Williamsport and in Lycoming and Tioga Counties, officials said.
Shockley and Singletary are also charged with illegal possession of firearms, and Shockley is charged with using and carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. Allegations in indictment also seek forfeiture of two firearms and proceeds from the criminal offenses totaling $1.75 million.