14 arrested in raid on Chester gang

By Mari A. Schaefer

Inquirer Staff Writer

They went by the street names "EZ," "Banks," "Shady," and "La-La," and carried loaded semiautomatic weapons. The circuitous streets where they peddled crack and other drugs were sometimes referred to as the "Circle of Death."

The Cut-Off, a Chester drug gang that has operated in the Highland Gardens neighborhood since 2003, ruled through threats and violence, according to federal law enforcement authorities.

Yesterday, 14 alleged members were arrested during an early-morning raid and indicted on federal drug and weapons charges; seven others were already in custody.

"We've seen this before - a violent drug organization moving cocaine in and around Chester," U.S. Attorney Laurie Magid said in announcing the arrests.

According to the 60-count indictment, gang leader Eddie Lee "Mo" Walker, 31, of Chester, would obtain cocaine from suppliers and would sometimes convert it into crack cocaine for gang members to sell. On occasion, gang members also sold heroin and marijuana, the indictment says.

Gang members often stashed the drugs in various neighborhood spots to avoid having it in their possession. They used abandoned houses, trash cans, mailboxes, and even potato chip bags as hiding places. The drugs were usually sold in $5 to $20 quantities.

Members of the gang had to be born and raised or be living in the neighborhood. Senior members were "old heads" and younger members were "young bulls." Juveniles were recruited to store, retrieve, and sell the drugs, sometimes within 1,000 feet of a playground, authorities said.

"The people of Highland Gardens deserve a break," said Magid, who pledged with the leaders of state and local law enforcement agencies to maintain a presence in the area.

Delaware County District Attorney G. Michael Green said the gang was destroying efforts to revitalize Chester. He said good cooperation from neighbors aided in the investigation and arrests yesterday.

In 2001, authorities arrested members of another violent drug gang, the Boyle Street Boys, which was also operating in Highland Gardens.

In April 2008, officials announced the indictments of 34 people in a two-year investigation into a violent drug ring in Chester that they said was led by Edward "Pooh" Kaplan.

In August 2008, Alfonso "Fonnie" Caldwell was arrested on federal drug and money-laundering charges for allegedly running a drug-trafficking operation out of Chester.

Contact staff writer Mari A. Schaefer at 610-892-9149 or mschaefer@phillynews.com.

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