Suspected members of a violent Brooklyn drug gang snatched up nearly $200,000 from the city, which decided to settle their civil rights lawsuits rather than fight them in court, records show.
Thugs involved with the “East 21st Street Crew,” which allegedly dealt crack and cocaine in East Flatbush, have filed at least 10 lawsuits charging that they were unfairly arrested.
One alleged member, Shamel King, filed six actions over the last four years after his arrests for drug possession failed to lead to indictments.
Those cases yielded a pay-out of $132,500. The two largest settlements were for $35,000, records show.
Another suspected member, Affection Johnson, scored $41,500 after his three cases were dropped. Anthony “Chosen” Lawrence also got $17,500 from the city under similar circumstances.
A call and e-mail to the Law Department was not returned last night.
The Brooklyn South Narcotics squad conducted a two-year investigation of the dangerous crew, which dealt drugs out of a bodega on Flatbush Avenue, leading to 12 arrests last month — including King, Johnson and Lawrence.
Johnson and King were each hit with more than 30 counts of criminal sale of controlled substance and conspiracy, according to the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor.
Lawrence was hit with 11 charges after the arrest.