More Charges Filed Against Alleged Bloods Affiliate

Bethlehem police have filed additional charges against a member of the Bloods street gang suspected of executing about two dozen burglaries and robberies in the city’s Southside.

Michael Prater, 20, of 624 Hayes St. and currently held at Northampton County Prison, was arraigned today on additional charges relating to a crime spree that had warning its students about the dangers of being out at night alone late last year.

The new charges relate to one attempted robbery of a Lehigh student on the 600 block of Hillside Avenue a year ago, a June 20 burglary at 420 Birkel Ave., and an Aug. 15 burglary at 521-523 E. Fifth St.

In the robbery attempt, Prater is accused of going through the student’s pockets and book bag, but walking away with nothing.

At Birkel Avenue, Prater allegedly entered the home through a window while residents slept and walked out with a PlayStation 3 console.

On Fifth Street, Prater allegedly entered through an unlocked window and walked out with televisions and computers valued at about $2,000.

The new charges against Prater are two counts each of burglary, criminal trespass, theft, receiving stolen property, one count of criminal conspiracy and three counts of criminal attempt to commit robbery.

He was recommitted to prison following the arraignment in front of District Judge Nancy Matos-Gonzalez. Bail was set at $250,000.

, which quickly followed another robbery of a Lehigh student on the 600 block of Pierce Street was an important break for Bethlehem police to bring the crime spree to an end.

It was Prater who told police that of 538 Hayes St. was receiving all of the stolen items as part of an initiation into the Bloods.

According to police, a bunch of younger members of another gang known as the YGz, or Yosko Gangsters, would be ordered to perform burglaries or robberies and return the items to a supervising Bloods member or else suffer a “beatdown.”

Newman, who has also been charged with numerous crimes and r, was the apparent ringleader, according to police.