Christopher Coke | |
---|---|
Born | Tivoli Gardens, Kingston, Jamaica |
13 March 1969
Alias(es) | Dudus, Paul Christopher Scott, Presi, President, General, Shortman, Omar Clark[1] |
Status | Serving a 23 year sentence |
Occupation | Head of the Shower Posse |
Christopher Michael Coke (born 13 March 1969),[2] also known as Dudus,[3] is a Jamaican drug lord and the leader of the Shower Posse, a violent drug gang in Jamaica which exported "large quantities"[4] of marijuana and cocaine into the United States. As such, "Dudus" was the de facto leader of Tivoli Gardens in the city of Kingston. Jamaican police were unable to enter this neighborhood without community consent.[3]
Jamaican police issued an arrest warrant for Coke in 2010 at the request of United States authorities, who wished to prosecute him for drug trafficking. A large scale search ensued during which Coke's supporters engaged in violent clashes with police officers attempting to find him. Coke was apprehended several weeks later and extradited to the United States. He subsequently pled guilty to federal racketeering charges in connection with drug trafficking and assault and has been sentenced to 23 years in Federal Prison by a Federal Court in New York State on June 8, 2012.
Contents |
Early life and rise to power
Christopher Michael Coke was born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1969 and is the youngest son of Lester Lloyd Coke and Patricia Halliburton. Lester Coke, who was also known as Jim Brown, was the founder of a violent drug gang called the Shower Posse, which received its name due to the gang's reputation for "showering" its enemies with gunfire. Together with the gang's co-founder Vivian Blake, Lester Coke oversaw the distribution of huge amounts of cocaine and marijuana throughout Jamaica and the United States, and was blamed for over 1000 murders in both countries between in the late 1980s and early 1990s.[5]
The gang ruled the Tivoli Gardens neighborhood of Kingston where the Coke family lived. The immense wealth Lester obtained from the gang's profits allowed the Coke family to live in luxury. Christopher Coke and his siblings attended school with children of the country's political elite. The family was repeatedly struck by the violence associated with their father's activities. Coke's sister was fatally shot in 1987. The United States Department of Justice indicted Lester Coke and other key members of the gang, including Vivian Blake, on drug trafficking and murder charges in 1990. Jamaican authorities arrested them. Coke's brother was killed in 1992 and weeks later Lester Coke died in a mysterious fire at the General Penitentiary in Kingston, where he was being held pending extradition proceedings.[6]
Ruling the gang where his father left off, Christopher Coke became a community leader in Tivoli Gardens, distributing money to the area's poor, creating employment and setting up community centers.[7]
Extradition request and violence
In 2009 the United States began asking for the extradition of Coke from his native Jamaica.[8][9]
Bruce Golding, the prime minister of Jamaica and leader of the Jamaica Labour Party, initially refused to extradite him, claiming that the United States had used warrantless wiretapping to gather evidence on Coke.[citation needed] Eavesdrop evidence did precipitate the US call for extradition.[3] On 17 May 2010 the Government of Jamaica relented[citation needed] and issued a warrant for Coke's arrest,[10] and Senator Tom Tavares-Finson withdrew as Coke's attorney on 18 May 2010 "in order to avoid conflict of interest".[11]
Following this news Coke's supporters began protesting and arming themselves. Kingston was placed under a state of emergency after a series of shootings and firebombings within the city.[12] On 24 May 2010, police and military forces launched a large-scale operation to take Coke into custody.[13] By 27 May, at least 73 people had died in clashes between Jamaican security forces and gunmen in West Kingston.[14] This casualty toll has climbed to a confirmed number of 76 dead victims.[15] Others have put the death toll at 74 including a lone soldier.[3]
Capture
Coke was detained during a routine roadblock while attempting to surrender himself to the United States Embassy in Kingston, possibly while disguised as a woman,[16] wearing a woman's wig and in possession of a second wig with pink hair and a pair of women's sunglasses.[citation needed] The influential evangelical priest Reverend Al Miller was also detained while attempting to facilitate the surrender. Miller told police Coke feared for his life if he surrendered directly to the police, and was asked by Coke to facilitate his surrender. Miller also facilitated the surrender of Coke's brother one month earlier.[17][18]
Coke voluntarily waived his right to an extradition trial so that he could be taken to the US to be tried. Coke's father died in a mysterious prison fire while awaiting an extradition trial.[citation needed] Coke was held under heavy guard while awaiting extradition out of concern that his supporters might attack.[19]
Coke indicated that his decision to surrender and face charges was based on a desire to end the violence in Jamaica, saying [20]:
"I take this decision for I now believe it to be in the best interest of my family, the community of western Kingston and in particular the people of Tivoli Gardens and above all Jamaica."
Court proceedings
Coke initially pled not guilty to federal drug trafficking and weapons trafficking charges.[21][20] On August 30, 2011, however, he appeared in front of Judge Robert P. Patterson, Jr. of Federal District Court in New York City and pled guilty to racketeering conspiracy for trafficking large quantities of marijuana and cocaine into the United States, as well as to conspiracy to commit assault in aid of racketeering for approving the stabbing of a marijuana dealer in New York City.[22]
Coke's sentencing was initially scheduled for December 8, 2011, but Judge Patterson has postponed it several times to provide Coke's defense attorneys and federal prosecutors more time to obtain information supporting their arguments regarding what sentence Coke should receive.[23]Defense attorneys cite members of Coke's family and other supporters who portray him as a benevolent, philanthropic, and well-mannered individual. Contrarily, documents presented by federal prosecutors depict Coke as a man who is willing to commit brutal acts of violence to support his drug empire, and implicate him in at least five murders, including one where he dismembered the victim with a chainsaw for stealing drugs from him. Evidence was also provided by the Jamaican government since Jamaican authorities had been wiretapping Coke's cellphone prior to his arrest, recording at least 50,000 conversations dating back to 2004.[24][25][26]On March 16, 2012, Judge Patterson scheduled a hearing for May 22, 2012, during which prosecutors will present evidence supporting their argument that Coke should receive the maximum sentence of 23 years in federal prison.[27][28]
Coke is being held at the federal New York City Metropolitan Correctional Center during the court proceedings.[29]
Trial of case 1:07-cr-00971-RPP USA vs CHRISTOPHER MICHAEL COKE was on May 22-23, 2012. See transcript.[30]
Jamaican Drug Lord Christopher Michael Coke Sentenced In Manhattan Federal Court To 23 Years In Prison on Friday June 8, 2012.[31]
See also
References
- ^ "Who is 'Dudus'?". The Jamaica Gleaner. 24 May 2010. http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20100524/lead/lead4.html.
- ^ http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20100524/lead/lead4.html
- ^ a b c d Schwartz, Mattathias (12/12), "A Massacre in Jamaica", The New Yorker: 62–71, http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/12/12/111212fa_fact_schwartz, retrieved 12/26/2011
- ^ Goldstein, Joseph (31 August 2011). "Christopher Coke Pleads Guilty in New York". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/01/nyregion/christopher-coke-pleads-guilty-in-new-york.html.
- ^ "Profile: Christopher 'Dudus' Coke". BBC News. 31 August 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10146172.
- ^ http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/159042_The-Cokes-then-and-now
- ^ Extraditing Coke. Al Jazeera. 30 June 2010.
- ^ "Tension in Tivoli as US awaits word on Dudus's extradition". The Jamaica Observer. 3 September 2009. http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/158840_Tension-in-Tivoli-as-US-awaits-word-on-Dudus-s-extradition.
- ^ "EDITORIAL - This is not Somalia, we hope". The Jamaica Gleaner. 6 September 2009. http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090906/cleisure/cleisure1.html.
- ^ "Prime Minister Shifts on Approving an Extradition". The New York Times. Associated Press. 17 May 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/18/world/americas/18briefs-Jamaica.html. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
- ^ "Tavares-Finson withdraws as arrest warrant out for 'Dudus'". The Daily Herald. 19 May 2010. http://www.thedailyherald.com/regional/2-news/3745-tavares-finson-withdraws-as-arrest-warrant-out-for-dudus.html. Retrieved 25 May 2010.[dead link]
- ^ "Jamaica Declares State of Emergency". The New York Times. Reuters. 23 May 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2010/05/23/world/americas/international-us-jamaica-emergency.html?_r=1&hp. Retrieved 25 May 2010.[dead link]
- ^ "Jamaica police storm stronghold of alleged drugs lord". BBC News. 25 May 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/latin_america/10148973.stm. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
- ^ "Toll from crackdown on Jamaica slum climbs to 73" Reuters, 27 May 2010.
- ^ "Alleged Jamaican Drug Kingpin Pleads Not Guilty" CNN, 25 June 2010.
- ^ Caroll, Rory (23 June 2010). "Jamaica appeals for calm after surrender of Christopher 'Dudus' Coke". London: The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/23/christopher-dudus-coke-kingston. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
- ^ "Jamaican kingpin's reign comes to a quiet end". The Associated Press via Google News. 23 June 2010. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gcTK9ZIIzg8wiSiMWaDiN58pBH_AD9GH7E280. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
- ^ Walker, Karyl (23 June 2010). "Al Miller turns himself in". Jamaica Observer. http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Al-Miller-turns-himself-in. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
- ^ Jamaica 'drug lord' arrives in US Al Jazeera. Accessed 25 June 2010.
- ^ a b "'Drug lord' pleads not guilty in US.". 25 June 2010.. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2010/06/2010625183920605809.html. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
- ^ Alleged Jamaican drug lord Coke extradited to US. Voice of America News. 24 June 2010.
- ^ Goldstein, Joseph (31 August 2011). "Christopher Coke Pleads Guilty in New York". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/01/nyregion/christopher-coke-pleads-guilty-in-new-york.html.
- ^ "Jamaican drug lord 'Dudus' obtains sentencing delay". Reuters. 16 March 2012. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/16/us-usa-crime-jamaica-idUSBRE82F19F20120316.
- ^ Golding's sternest political test Jamaica Observer 15 March 2010 2 February 2007 Jamaican Gov't seeks to have Coke's phone tapped 2 February 2007 -- Jamaican Govt. seeks to have Coke's phone tapped
- ^ Cop who tapped Dudus' phone broke no l- Lewin Jamaican Observer 21 May 2010
- ^ Christopher Coke Pleads Guilty in New YorkChristopher Coke Pleads Guilty in New York:New York Times 31 August 2011
- ^ Dudus: I'm guilty. Jamaica Gleaner. Sept 1 2011. Retrieved Sept 14 2011.
- ^ http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/03/16/jamaican-drug-lord-to-be-sentenced-on-trafficking-charges-in-manhattan-court/
- ^ http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderServlet?Transaction=IDSearch&needingMoreList=false&IDType=IRN&IDNumber=02257-748&x=81&y=16
- ^ http://www.olintja.com/docs/coketranscript/transcript_of_Christopher_Michael_Coke.aspx
- ^ http://www.justice.gov/usao/nys/pressreleases/june12/cokechristophersentencing.html
External links
- Indictment of Christopher Coke
- Mary Vallis. "Police raids reveal links to powerful Jamaican Shower Posse gang" The National Post 4 May 2010.
- Denise Balkissoon. "Deadly Shower Posse gang has deep ties to Toronto" by The Toronto Star 25 May 2010
- Critics: Rising Jamaican Death Toll Rooted in So-Called "War on Drugs" - video report by Democracy Now!