South Philadelphia Drug Delivery Service Operators, Known As The “Friends,” Convicted At Trial On All Counts

The U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Pennsylvania released the below information:

PHILADELPHIA – First Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Antoine Clark, 30, Gerald Spruell, 32, and Daniel Robinson, 36, all of Philadelphia, PA, were convicted after more than two weeks at trial of charges including conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and distribution or possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and heroin arising from their operation of an almost around-the-clock drug delivery service for several years in South Philadelphia.

Between 2013 and 2016, the defendants and their co-conspirators, known as the “Friends” and “7th Street” drug trafficking group, delivered crack cocaine and heroin to customers along the 7^th Street corridor in South Philadelphia using a shared drug phone. The defendants used the phone to take orders and communicate with customers; they would pass the phone off in shifts to keep their operation going almost 24 hours per day. FBI agents conducted surveillance and controlled purchases of narcotics from the defendants using audio and video recording devices. Agents recovered narcotics sold by the defendants after stopping their drug customers. During the course of the investigation, agents also intercepted phone calls and text messages from the shared drug phone, which documented the defendants’ illicit activities. Upon defendant Spruell’s arrest in June 2016, Philadelphia Police officers recovered a number of items related to drug trafficking, including two firearms and live rounds of ammunition.

“The defendants in this case ran a drug delivery operation akin to a ‘GrubHub’ or ‘UberEats’ for narcotics,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Williams. “But despite their ‘friendly’ moniker, they were no friends to this community.  To the contrary, they jeopardized the safety of an entire neighborhood in South Philadelphia.  This conviction marks the definitive end to their enterprise, and a new beginning for the 7^th Street corridor.”

Each defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years’ imprisonment, and a maximum of lifetime imprisonment.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Newcomer and Jason Grenell.

Trainer, PA Man Charged With Internet Stalking

The U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, released the below information:

Matthew Handy, 24, of Trainer, PA, was charged today by indictment with stalking another person via the Internet, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. Handy is charged with cyberstalking, two counts of interstate use of telecommunications device to willfully convey a threat, and two counts of false statements.

According to the indictment, Handy was involved in a romantic relationship with the victim that ended on January 17, 2014.  From that date until February 24, 2014, Handy allegedly sent anonymous electronic mail messages to law enforcement agencies falsely claiming that the victim was engaging in child exploitation and molestation, was using drugs, was building pipe bombs, and a family member was supplying fertilizer and metal pipes to make the explosives, and the victim intended to use the explosives, all of which he knew was false. For example, on February 10, 2014, Handy allegedly sent an anonymous email to the Atlantic County (NJ) Prosecutor’s Office “Crime Stoppers” website claiming the victim and another individual intended to attack a middle school in New Jersey with guns and a pipe bomb on the morning of February 10, 2014, which he knew was false.  As a result of the threat, the school of 393 students and 58 faculty had to be evacuated while the school was searched by the New Jersey State Police’s K-9 Unit and Bomb Squad.  On February 9, 2014, Handy allegedly sent an anonymous email to the Department of Homeland Security alleging that the victim and the victim’s immediate family were obtaining materials to make explosives, one of the family members was supplying the bomb making materials, and that the victim was going to use the explosives against individuals, all of which he knew was false.

On January 28, 2014, Handy allegedly sent an anonymous email to the Department of Homeland Security alleging that the victim was selling drugs and explosives to people, threatened to use explosives at undisclosed locations, kept explosives somewhere in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and threatened to use an explosive at an unidentified mall in New Jersey, which Handy knew was false.  On January 27, 2014, Handy allegedly sent an anonymous email to the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness stating that the victim intended to use explosive devices against the Salvation Army in Chester, Pennsylvania and the Chester (PA) Police Headquarters, which he knew was false. 

If convicted of all charges, Handy faces a possible advisory sentencing guideline range of 63 to 78 months in prison with a statutory maximum 38 years, a $500 special assessment and up to three years of supervised release.  He could also be ordered to pay restitution to the victim for any physical, psychiatric or psychological care, and possible fines.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New Jersey State Police, and the FBI.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anita Eve.                                                                                                   

An Indictment is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.