Gang Member Charged With Distributing Crack In JP Public Housing

JAMAICA PLAIN, MA – A man identified as a member of the Heath Street Gang was arrested Tuesday and charged in federal court in Boston with distributing crack cocaine in a public housing development in JP.

Michael Pridgen, 35, was charged with distribution and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and distribution and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances in a public housing development. Pridgen was detained following an initial appearance yesterday in federal court, according to U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling and Joseph Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Pridgen distributed crack cocaine in and around the Mildred C. Hailey Apartments, formerly known as the Bromley Heath Housing Development, in Boston on June 5 and July 2, according to court documents.

During the June 5 sale, Pridgen stored the crack cocaine and a digital scale in an electrical box affixed to the wall in the stairwell of the public housing complex, according to prosecutors. Both drug sales alleged to have happen occurred in common stairwells in the complex.

Police identified Pridgen - who has lived in JP before- as a member of the Heath Street Gang, even though he was living in Westborough at the time.

He faces up to 20 years in prison and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million for the charge of distributing or possessing with intent to distribute controlled substances. The charge of distributing or possessing with intent to distribute controlled substances in a public housing development provides for a mandatory minimum of one year and up and to 40 years in prison, six years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $2 million.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, according to authorities, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.

"Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime," according to the DOJ.