BUFFALO – A street gang, who authorities claim sold drugs while committing violence and instilling fear in a community, was completely dismantled following a racketeering conviction on Wednesday, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Aaron “Boogy” Hicks, 33, of Buffalo, became the 28th member of the Schuele Boys Gang to be convicted in the last six years.
The Gang operated in the Schuele Street area of the East Side of Buffalo, police said.
“Working with our federal, state, and local partners, this office has gone on the offense against violent street gangs in Buffalo,” said U.S. Attorney James Kennedy.
The street gang sold massive amounts of drugs with impunity, Kennedy said.
“From the West side to the East side and from North Buffalo to South Buffalo, we are using the RICO statute systematically to dismantle these violent organizations and lock-up their members for lengthy prison sentences,” said Kennedy.
“We will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of these criminal enterprises, and we will not rest until those who are attracted to these gangs realize that in joining them, they are simply signing up for a spot on the losing team,” he added.
The entire case, which lasted about six years, is a testament to a massive jurisdictional investigation that included at five different FBI offices across the country. They include the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Buffalo Police Department, New York State Police, Erie County District Attorney’s Office, the Edinboro University Police Department in Pennsylvania, the West Tennessee Judicial Drug Task Force, the City of McAllen, Texas Police Department, HSI Harlingen, Texas.
Sentencing is scheduled for August 6, 2018, at 12:30 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara, who presided over the trial.