By: Tracie Carter
A Jackson Township resident has been sentenced to 17 years in state prison for his involvement in a sprawling criminal enterprise that fueled violent gang activity across several Monmouth County communities, authorities announced Thursday.
According to Monmouth County First Assistant Prosecutor Julia Alonso, 34-year-old Xavier “HS” Reed received his sentence on Wednesday, July 9, from Superior Court Judge Jill G. O’Malley.
The prison term stems from Reed’s role as a high-ranking member of the G-Shine set of the Bloods, and his effort to unify members of rival gangs under a single violent alliance.
Investigators first began tracking Reed’s activities in the summer of 2019.
They determined he had been actively working to consolidate power among multiple gangs, including G-Shine Bloods, 47 Neighborhood Crips (47 NHC), and the Grape Street Crips, with the goal of dominating criminal operations in Asbury Park, Neptune, and Freehold Township.
Authorities said the criminal network engaged in a range of violent and illegal activities, including the trafficking of community firearms, narcotics distribution, orchestrated assaults, dogfighting, and multiple gang-related shootings.
One of the most devastating incidents was the March 2020 shooting death of 24-year-old Christian Lahens in Asbury Park.
Earlier this year, Nahzee Z. Coger, 21, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree aggravated manslaughter in connection with Lahens’ death.
Reed had previously pleaded guilty to first-degree racketeering conspiracy. Under the terms of New Jersey’s No Early Release Act, he must serve at least 85% of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
Upon his release, Reed will be under parole supervision for an additional five years.
In total, 29 co-defendants have pleaded guilty to a range of charges tied to the operation, including racketeering conspiracy, attempted murder, unlawful weapons possession, drug distribution, and dogfighting.
The sentencing marks a significant step in dismantling the network of gang violence that plagued parts of Monmouth County during the height of the organization’s activity in 2020.