August 23, 2007
PRESS RELEASE

United States Attorney Glenn T. Suddaby announced today that RAMAAR MILNER, a/k/a “Bizza,” age 22 of Albany, New York, and SHABAR PERKINS, a/k/a “Barsky,” age 20, of Albany, New York, both respectively pled guilty in U.S. District Court, Albany, New York, before the Hon. Gary L. Sharpe, U.S. District Judge. MILNER and PERKINS both pled guilty to racketeering conspiracy charges as set forth in Count 1 of a federal indictment relating to the criminal activities of the Jungle Junkies gang, which operated within the City of Albany.

In their respective plea agreements, MILNER and PERKINS both admitted that:

Beginning in or about 1999, and continuing thereafter up to October 12, 2006, they were members of a criminal organization in Albany, New York, originally known as the LTT (Looney Tunes Thugs) and later known as the “Jungle Junkies.” They also both admitted that they and other Jungle Junkies gang members and associates operated within and near the Arbor Hill section of the City of Albany, New York, and routinely engaged in criminal activities which included crack cocaine and marijuana trafficking, possession of firearms, and acts of assault, robbery, and attempted murder against rival gang members within the Northern District of New York. MILNER and PERKINS both specifically sold crack cocaine in furtherance of their gang related activities.

MILNER’S sentencing is scheduled for December 11, 2007, and PERKINS’ sentence is scheduled for December 13, 2007. Both MILNER and PERKINS face a maximum of Life imprisonment, supervised release for up to 5 years, and a fine of $250,000.

This prosecution resulted from a joint investigation conducted by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Albany Field Division; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration, Albany District Office; the City of Albany Police Department; the Albany County Sheriff’s Department; the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Department; the New York State Department of Corrections; the New York State Division of Parole; and the New York State Police, with the assistance of the United States Marshal, Northern District of New York, Albany Office; the Albany County District Attorney’s Office; the Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office; the Town of Guilderland Police Department; the Town of Bethlehem Police Department; and the City of Cohoes Police Department.

CONTACT: Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard S. Hartunian (518) 431-0247

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