Philadelphia's Broaster brothers charged in alleged drug ring
Another defendant, Shannon Powell, 36, was also arrested, officials said. Nick Higgens, 29, and Ronald Johnson, 26, remain at large, according to U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger and George Venizelos, the FBI special agent-in-charge in Philadelphia.
Charges facing the seven men include allegedly conspiring to distribute 100 grams or more of PCP and 28 grams or more of crack cocaine, including within 1,000 feet of a public school, between August 2011 and October 2012, authorities said.
Jerome Broaster, Elliott Broaster, Johnson, and Powell face potential life sentences if convicted. The other men would face maximum terms ranging from 40 to 80 years.
A detention hearing was set for Tuesday for the defendants.
The FBI and Philadelphia police investigated the case.
Former Philadelphia Police Commissioner Sylvester M. Johnson once called Jerome and Cassius Broaster "the worst people in the city as far as violence is concerned."
Authorities had long suspected the two were major players in the drug trade.
In 2003, they were acquitted in a triple murder committed on Feb. 23, 2002, at a rowhouse at 2823 W. Huntingdon St. in North Philadelphia that was operating as an after-hours bar.
Police said Jerome and Cassius Broaster entered the bar and released a barrage of bullets, killing three men. Five others were injured.
"They've been locked up many times, but they have beaten the cases by intimidating witnesses," Johnson said in 2002 after the bar shooting.
The third-grade student was walking to school when he was shot in the head. He died on Feb. 16.
The Broaster brothers were not charged in that case, but Kareem Johnson and Kennell Spady were convicted of first-degree murder in 2006 and are serving life sentences for Faheem's death.
Authorities said Johnson fired the bullet that hit Faheem.
Contact Darran Simon at 856-779-3829, dsimon@phillynews.com, or follow on Twitter @darransimon.
