12 ARE INDICTED AS MEMBERS OF HARLEM DRUG GANG

The gang, the authorities say, made $10,000 a day selling heroin. But the
gang members were careful; they only sold to people they knew.

They kept track of which neighbors had been asked about their activities,
and, according to an indictment announced yesterday, the gang's leader
threatened to kill a woman who was willing to testify against him.

Twelve members of the Harlem gang, the Lincoln Crew, were named in the
indictment, which included charges ranging from murder and drug sales to
witness intimidation, said the Manhattan district attorney, Robert M.
Morgenthau.

The gang leader, Kevin Saxon, 31, who faces life in prison on nine charges
including murder, ran what the authorities described as a midsize heroin
operation pulling in $2.5 million a year. The ring spread violence
throughout Abraham Lincoln Houses, a project at 132nd Street between Fifth
and Madison Avenues, Mr. Morgenthau said.

He said the gang also controlled heroin distribution at 117th Street and
Manhattan Avenue, selling bundles of 10 packets labeled "Tommy Hilfiger"
and "N.B.A. Jams."

The indictment resulted from a six-month undercover investigation prompted
in part by two related shootings in September near the Lincoln Houses. Mr.
Saxon fired at an amateur boxer, Richard Gaines, but missed him and instead
struck a passing car driven by a mother who was taking her two small
children to a nearby parade, Mr. Morgenthau said. The next day, one block
away, Mr. Gaines was shot dead, most likely for "not showing enough
respect" to the gang, he said.

Mr. Saxon has an extensive criminal record and spent nine years in prison
for manslaughter before he was paroled. He took over the gang's activities
in June when the previous leader was killed.

Of the 12 gang members indicted, 3 are on parole and 3 on probation.