More details have been released regarding the 14 alleged gang members arrested Wednesday on charges related to drug trafficking. Starting around 6 o’clock in the morning on Wednesday, over 100 officers from federal, state, and local police agencies served warrants at nine locations around Binghamton and the New York City area. One of the targets was the “17 East” nightclub on Clinton Street in Binghamton, which prosecutors say was being used by gang members for drugs and other illegal activities. The investigation is said to have initially began in March of 2012 following a probe by the FBI, State Police, and Broome County investigators. Among those charged Wednesday was 38-year-old Calvin Johnson of Binghamton, the owner of the nightclub. Of the remaining alleged gang members, seven of them were charged in the Binghamton federal courthouse, with Johnson and the remaining six charged in a New York City Court. 21-year-old Saquan Johnson of Binghamton was charged, and described as being a possible enforcer/shooter for the gang, and was allegedly responsible for distributing large amounts of the drugs, including crack cocaine, powder cocaine, heroin, and marijuana. A complaint filed in court charges the 14 suspects with felony counts of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute, and they each face sentences of 10 years to life in federal prison.
