Delaware News

DOJ, WPD, and NCCPD Announce Felony Convictions Against NorthPak Defendants

Criminal Division | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Monday, August 21, 2023


Navy blue background featuring the Delaware state seal in the center

Over 80 convictions, including 5 murders solved over the last 2 years

The Department of Justice has secured 10 new felony convictions—including multiple murder and gun charges— in its long-running case against members of the violent Wilmington-area gang NorthPak, Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Monday.

“Our trial team and our partners in Wilmington PD and New Castle County PD continue to rack up serious convictions against NorthPak, a major reason why crime is down,” said Attorney General Jennings. “Violent gangs have been a plague on our city, and they must be held accountable for the lives they’ve taken and the violence they’ve caused. We’re proud of the victories that our team has already won — but we are not slowing down. Holding violent gangs accountable is central to an anti-gun violence strategy that has already slashed shootings in the City by one-third. We’re not letting up.”

“These latest sentencings demonstrate that the NorthPak indictment is part of a continuing effort to hold violent offenders accountable in Wilmington,” said Wilmington Police Major Anthony Bowers, who oversees Investigative Operations. “We hope this will send a clear message that we will remain relentless in our efforts to make our community safer and further reduce gun violence.”

“I would like to commend the Criminal Investigations Unit and the collaborating agencies for their diligence, professionalism, and tireless efforts put forth during this investigation,” said Colonel Joseph Bloch, Chief of New Castle County Police “These Investigators worked to gather evidence, secure multiple convictions, and bring justice and closure to those affected by this tragic incident.” 

NorthPak members Jacari Robinson and Julius Smith, Jr. pleaded guilty Monday to the following felonies in connection with the murder of Dakevis Reed and other offenses:

Jacari Robinson:

  • Murder 2nd Degree
  • Two counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
  • Assault 2nd Degree
  • Illegal Gang Participation

Julius Smith, Jr.:

  • Murder 2nd Degree
  • Assault 1st Degree
  • Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
  • Conspiracy 1st Degree
  • Illegal Gang Participation

Robinson will serve a total of 22 years in prison, followed by probation; Smith will serve a total of 20 years in prison, followed by probation. Both sentences include an additional 63 years of suspended prison time for each defendant, which the Court may impose should they violate the law during their probation.The convictions are the latest in a series of advances secured by prosecutors and police since a massive opening indictment against NorthPak was announced in June 2021. Prosecutors in March secured 40 convictions, including multiple murder charges, against NorthPak defendants Elijah Coffield and Greg Wing. Nine other defendants — Isaiah Lecompte, Markevis Clark, Zymir Hynson, DeShonne Moore, Khalil Rodriguez Fitzgerald, Malik Benson, Rashawn George, Dion Young, and Markell Richards — have pleaded guilty to other offenses.

NorthPak has been at the center of a series of indictments and a longtime investigation by the DOJ, the Wilmington Police Department, and a coalition of local, state, and federal authorities. The gang has been connected to a string of felonies, including a litany of shootings and several murders and attempted murders.

Smith and Robinson’s convictions were secured by Deputy Attorneys General Joseph Grubb, Erika Flaschner, and AJ Hill, with support from DOJ Gang and Intelligence Analyst Daniel Masi, paralegals Julia Bacon and Sarah Molaski, Investigator Thomas Dempsey, Social Workers Crystal Pitts and Donna Lindsey, and Trial Management Analyst Theodore Griffin, following an investigation led by Det. Justin Kane and Det. Sgt. Thomas Curley of the Wilmington Police Department, and Sgt. David DiNardo and Det. Jonathan Adams of the New Castle County Police Department. The investigation was supported by Detectives of the NCCPD Criminal Investigations Unit, Special Investigations Squad, and NCC Task Force Officers assigned to the ATF, FBI, and U.S. Marshals.

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DOJ, WPD, and NCCPD Announce Felony Convictions Against NorthPak Defendants

Criminal Division | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Monday, August 21, 2023


Navy blue background featuring the Delaware state seal in the center

Over 80 convictions, including 5 murders solved over the last 2 years

The Department of Justice has secured 10 new felony convictions—including multiple murder and gun charges— in its long-running case against members of the violent Wilmington-area gang NorthPak, Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Monday.

“Our trial team and our partners in Wilmington PD and New Castle County PD continue to rack up serious convictions against NorthPak, a major reason why crime is down,” said Attorney General Jennings. “Violent gangs have been a plague on our city, and they must be held accountable for the lives they’ve taken and the violence they’ve caused. We’re proud of the victories that our team has already won — but we are not slowing down. Holding violent gangs accountable is central to an anti-gun violence strategy that has already slashed shootings in the City by one-third. We’re not letting up.”

“These latest sentencings demonstrate that the NorthPak indictment is part of a continuing effort to hold violent offenders accountable in Wilmington,” said Wilmington Police Major Anthony Bowers, who oversees Investigative Operations. “We hope this will send a clear message that we will remain relentless in our efforts to make our community safer and further reduce gun violence.”

“I would like to commend the Criminal Investigations Unit and the collaborating agencies for their diligence, professionalism, and tireless efforts put forth during this investigation,” said Colonel Joseph Bloch, Chief of New Castle County Police “These Investigators worked to gather evidence, secure multiple convictions, and bring justice and closure to those affected by this tragic incident.” 

NorthPak members Jacari Robinson and Julius Smith, Jr. pleaded guilty Monday to the following felonies in connection with the murder of Dakevis Reed and other offenses:

Jacari Robinson:

  • Murder 2nd Degree
  • Two counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
  • Assault 2nd Degree
  • Illegal Gang Participation

Julius Smith, Jr.:

  • Murder 2nd Degree
  • Assault 1st Degree
  • Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
  • Conspiracy 1st Degree
  • Illegal Gang Participation

Robinson will serve a total of 22 years in prison, followed by probation; Smith will serve a total of 20 years in prison, followed by probation. Both sentences include an additional 63 years of suspended prison time for each defendant, which the Court may impose should they violate the law during their probation.The convictions are the latest in a series of advances secured by prosecutors and police since a massive opening indictment against NorthPak was announced in June 2021. Prosecutors in March secured 40 convictions, including multiple murder charges, against NorthPak defendants Elijah Coffield and Greg Wing. Nine other defendants — Isaiah Lecompte, Markevis Clark, Zymir Hynson, DeShonne Moore, Khalil Rodriguez Fitzgerald, Malik Benson, Rashawn George, Dion Young, and Markell Richards — have pleaded guilty to other offenses.

NorthPak has been at the center of a series of indictments and a longtime investigation by the DOJ, the Wilmington Police Department, and a coalition of local, state, and federal authorities. The gang has been connected to a string of felonies, including a litany of shootings and several murders and attempted murders.

Smith and Robinson’s convictions were secured by Deputy Attorneys General Joseph Grubb, Erika Flaschner, and AJ Hill, with support from DOJ Gang and Intelligence Analyst Daniel Masi, paralegals Julia Bacon and Sarah Molaski, Investigator Thomas Dempsey, Social Workers Crystal Pitts and Donna Lindsey, and Trial Management Analyst Theodore Griffin, following an investigation led by Det. Justin Kane and Det. Sgt. Thomas Curley of the Wilmington Police Department, and Sgt. David DiNardo and Det. Jonathan Adams of the New Castle County Police Department. The investigation was supported by Detectives of the NCCPD Criminal Investigations Unit, Special Investigations Squad, and NCC Task Force Officers assigned to the ATF, FBI, and U.S. Marshals.

image_printPrint


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.