They “friended” their enemies, and used Facebook for “anti-social” networking. Now, members of two violent Brooklyn street gangs, who traded threats online, have been blocked — by police.
Cops busted nearly 50 gang members yesterday after monitoring their activity online and listening in on phone calls over the course of a three-year war between rival factions in East New York.
Authorities said both gangs made and accepted “friend” requests among their rivals so they could posts threats to each other.
At least one Facebook comment was a direct reference to the murder of Very Crispy Gangster (VCG) member Johnny Santiago, who was beaten to death on June 6, 2011.
After Santiago’s murder, a gang that called itself the Rockstarz posted comments, including, “Rockstarz are up 3-0” on Facebook, according to the indictments, an apparent reference to the number of murders committed.
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said their boasting did them in.
“For example, after a VCG member was beaten to death by up to 20 members of the Rock Stars gang, one of the assailants posted a photo of himself wearing the victim’s belt and watch with the taunting message, ‘I can’t give it back to you, you can’t walk no more,” Kelly said.
The suspects, who were charged with murder, attempted murder, criminal possession of a weapon and conspiracy, range in age from 16 to 23.