Rollin’ 60s Crips Gang Member Gets 28 Years for Racketeering and Violence in New Jersey

Jason “Freak” Franklin ordered multiple retaliatory shootings, held leadership role in criminal enterprise

Jason Franklin, also known as “Freak,” a 41-year-old member of the Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips gang, has been sentenced to 336 months (28 years) in federal prison for his role in a violent racketeering conspiracy spanning several years in New Jersey. The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Alina Habba and handed down by U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton in Newark.

Franklin had previously pleaded guilty to participating in a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy, acknowledging his leadership role within the gang from 2015 through at least September 2022.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Franklin directed several acts of violence. On March 20, 2019, he ordered the murder of an individual in Irvington in retaliation for the killing of a Rollin’ 60s member. Later, in April 2021, he directed an attempted murder of a rival gang member, resulting in the victim sustaining serious gunshot injuries.

Franklin’s sentencing also includes three years of supervised release following his prison term.

The case was the result of a multi-agency investigation led by the DEA, IRS-Criminal Investigation, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, and numerous local and county law enforcement agencies across New Jersey and North Carolina. It was prosecuted as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) initiative, which focuses on dismantling high-level criminal organizations through collaborative, intelligence-driven operations.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Francesca Liquori and Jake A. Nasar handled the prosecution.