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DA: East Harlem Drug Gang Bragged About Crimes On Social Media

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The alleged gang members charged with allegedly selling crack cocaine and marijuana in "Sour Power" candy wrappers were caught after bragging about their activities on social media sites.

The defendants allegedly packaged and sold the drugs in the candy wrappers near East 118th Street and Lexington Avenue in East Harlem.

DA: East Harlem Drug Gang Bragged About Crimes On Social Media

As WCBS 880's Irene Cornell reported, the 18 gang members, who range in age from 18 to 48, face several charges -- including criminal sale of marijuana, criminal possession of a weapon and conspiracy.

Karen Friedman Agnifilo, head of the Manhattan District Attorney's Office Trials Division, said like many youth gangs, the East Harlem group used social media to boast about their crimes.

"This group called the Fetti Boys, they boasted about their drug dealing and retaliatory violence on Youtube and on Facebook," Agnifilo said.

Since January 2011, there have been five fatal shootings and 22 non-fatal shootings in the area, 1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria reported.

"Areas where there is a high prevalence of drug sales are often breeding grounds for violence," District Attorney Cyrus Vance said in a statement.

Vance said this is the seventh drug crew his office has taken down in a little over a year.

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