In federal court in Boston on Monday, Josue Rodriguez, a/k/a “SB,” a/k/a “Superbad,” 20, of Chelsea, entered guilty pleas to one count of conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, commonly known as RICO, and one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base. The Chelsea East Side Money gang member known as “Superbad” thus admitted to racketeering and drug trafficking charges. Sentencing has been set for Sept. 13, 2017 by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns.
The East Side Money Gang (ESMG), which operates as a Chelsea-based street gang, relies on violence to advance its illegal enterprises and maintain discipline among its members. Such violence serves multiple purposes within the organization: protecting members and associates, attacking rival gang members and associates, and discouraging potential witnesses from cooperating with law enforcement.
Rodriguez’s criminal conduct included a July 5, 2015 incident in which he ambushed a rival gang member on the street, firing a semi-automatic pistol at him without striking him. Later, on March 29, 2016, Rodriguez and another ESMG member agreed to supply a .22 caliber revolver to a third gang member so he could “fblikebutton_button” with it – meaning that he could use it against rivals of ESMG. On April 3, 2016, the third gang member used the revolver to attempt to murder two men believed to be members/associates of a rival gang. One of the targets was shot in the head. On May 26, 2016, Rodriguez attempted to hide a .38 caliber Smith and Wesson revolver used in a shooting, as well as spent and live shells after another ESMG member/associate attempted to shoot a rival gang member.
Drug trafficking formed another significant aspect of ESMG operations. The East Side Money gang was also involved in drug trafficking, including cocaine, cocaine base (“crack”) and heroin. Rodriguez conspired with other gang members and associates to distribute at least a kilo of cocaine and cocaine base. From his Tudor Street residence in Chelsea, Rodriguez both stored and distributed drugs, with the gang maintaining at least one firearm at the location.
Among 66 alleged gang members and associates from the Greater Boston area charged in June 2016 with federal firearm and drug offenses, Rodriguez is the 11th to plead guilty. These defendants represent leaders, members, and associates of the 18th Street Gang, East Side Money Gang and the Boylston Gang, who worked together to operate a gun and drug pipeline servicing multiple eastern Massachusetts cities and towns. The criminal enterprise supplied cocaine, crack, and heroin sourced from a Brockton-based drug network to support their trafficking operations. Investigators recovered more than 70 firearms during the investigation.