Feds to seek death penalty against reputed head of drug gang

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Federal prosecutors in New Jersey will seek the death penalty for only the second time against a man they say led a violent street gang charged in 2013 with six murders.

Prosecutors today filed formal notice of their intent to seek the death penalty against 30-year-old Farad Roland. Roland is charged with running the violent South Side Cartel, a subset of the Bloods street gang that prosecutors say was known as "the most violent street gang operating in Newark."

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder authorized seeking the death penalty against Roland last month, U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman said. Federal prosecutors in New Jersey last sought the death penalty in 2007, the same year the state abolished capital punishment for state-level cases.

Roland and two co-defendants have pleaded not guilty to murder, kidnapping, robbery, carjacking and drug conspiracy charges. His co-defendants will not face the death penalty. Roland is scheduled to go on trial next January.