MICHAEL J. GARCIA, the United States Attorney for the
Southern District of New York, and RAYMOND W. KELLY, the Police
Commissioner of the City of New York, announced today the
conviction of SHAUN DOZIER, one of the leaders of an organization
that sold crack cocaine in the Sedgwick Housing Project located
in the Morris Heights section of the Bronx, of narcotics and
firearms charges. The verdict was returned yesterday evening
after a one week jury trial before United States District Judge
ROBERT W. SWEET.
According to the evidence at trial: in 2006 and 2007,
along with other members of a criminal organization who called
themselves the “Chief Set,” the DOZIER distributed hundreds of
grams of crack cocaine out of various locations inside the
Sedgwick Houses. Specifically, DOZIER and his co-conspirators
distributed narcotics from two apartments inside the housing
projects, and from the lobby of one of the buildings. The
evidence further established that, on April 11, 2007, DOZIER sold
crack cocaine to an undercover officer and a confidential
informant working for the New York Police Department (“NYPD”).
Based on this conduct, DOZIER was convicted of conspiracy to
distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, 50 grams or
more of crack cocaine, as well as with distributing, or
possessing with intent to distribute, crack cocaine.
DOZIER was also convicted of using and carrying a
firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense, and
with possessing a firearm in furtherance of that crime. As a
member of the Chief Set, DOZIER used and possessed handguns and a
shotgun while selling crack cocaine in the Sedgwick Houses. On
October 2, 2007, DOZIER shot another individual on the grounds of
the Sedgwick Houses in connection with a dispute over drugselling
territory.
Four other members of the Chief Set, SHANNON DOZIER,
SAMANTHA SAMUELS, JOSE MORALES, and JOHN ADAMS, pleaded guilty
earlier this year to narcotics conspiracy charges in connection
with the Chief Set’s crack-selling activities.
DOZIER faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment
and a mandatory minimum term of 15 years in custody. Sentencing
has not yet been scheduled for DOZIER or for his co-defendants.
Mr. GARCIA praised the outstanding work of the Drug
Enforcement Administration and the NYPD in the investigation of
this case.
Assistant United States Attorneys RANDALL W. JACKSON,
NOLA B. HELLER, and JEFFREY A. BROWN are in charge of the
prosecution.
08-289 ###
