Bethlehem Bloods Gang Members Waive Hearings

Three suspects accused in what Bethlehem police have called a street gang conspiracy of robberies and burglaries waived their rights to preliminary hearings today.

Darius Michael Newman, Michael Prater and Dario Perez all entered pleas of “not guilty” before District Judge Nancy Matos-Gonzalez in South Bethlehem. All have had their charges bound over for court.

“I love you, Ma,” said a shackled and handcuffed Newman, just before he was put in an unmarked police vehicle to be brought back to Northampton County Prison, where he being held in lieu of $250,000 bail.

Newman’s mother, along with a group of five female friends or relatives – some teary eyed, showed up to witness court proceedings.

Newman, 21, of 538 Hayes St., Bethlehem, is alleged to be a ring leader in what police identify as a conspiracy of the Piru Bloods, a local chapter of the nationally known and violent street gang.

According to police, Newman coordinated burglaries and robberies among a group of younger recruits – members of the Y.G.z or Yosko Gangsters street gang – who would bring their stolen items to him. Failure to bring stolen items would result in a “beatdown” of the younger gang members, police said.

Among those who prosecutors planned to have testify against Newman was Prater, who was among the first of the co-conspirators to be arrested and, according to court papers, told police that any items he took from his victims were brought to Newman’s house.

Police allegedly found a number of items that had been reported stolen in Newman’s home after executing a search warrant there. Police also found marijuana, a grinder and small plastic baggies typically used to sell marijuana.

Newman is charged with five counts of receiving stolen property, possession and possession with intent to deliver marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Prater was arrested just hours after he allegedly participated in a mugging of a Lehigh University student on Dec. 10. According to police, Prater lost a game of “rock, paper, scissors” to a 15-year-old fellow gang recruit to determine who would carry out the attack on the 21-year-old woman Prater and three others had been stalking.

Prater allegedly punched her in the face, knocked her to the ground, then grabbed her purse and valuables, according to police.

Prater, 18,  is charged with robbery, theft, criminal conspiracy, reckless endangerment, simple assault and receiving stolen property. He remains in Northampton County Prison.

Dario Perez, 19, of Bethlehem, is charged in connection with two house burglaries allegedly committed by this group, according to police. Police have connected no less than 22 crimes to this group of people.