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A jury returned guilty verdicts Wednesday on a majority of the charges a 16-year Asbury Park Police Department veteran and two street gang members faced during a 5-month long trial, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced written statement.

“One corrupt cop and two bad gang members are going to prison,” Gramiccioni said. “Today’s verdict reinforces the message that we are serious about our mission to improve the quality of life for our citizens in Monmouth County. Violent street gangs will not be allowed to terrorize neighborhoods shooting, robbing or selling drugs.”

Former Asbury Park Police Officer Keith German, 49, of Tinton Falls, was found guilty of three counts of second degree official misconduct; one count each of second degree computer theft, unlawful access and disclosure; third degree hindering the apprehension of another; fourth degree conspiracy to commit stalking, and harassment.

During the trial, it was revealed that German used his official position to assist members of the Bloods criminal street gang avoid detection and prosecution by providing them with confidential law enforcement information, including on one occasion unlawfully accessing a law enforcement database, according to the news release.

German faces five to 10 years on each of the official misconduct, computer theft, and unlawful access and disclosure charges, with a minimum of five years without parole when he returns Dec. 20 for sentencing before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Joseph W. Oxley.

Bloods member James Fair, 29, and Crips member Haneef Walker, 25, both of Asbury Park, were found guilty of numerous crimes, including first degree racketeering conspiracy for their roles in violent street crimes, conspiracy to commit murder, robbery, burglary, aggravated assault and other criminal activity in and around the seaside city, officials said.

Fair will be sentenced for 78 crimes and Walker faces 25 charges during their Dec 21 sentencing before Judge Oxley, officials said.

The convictions are a result of a 14-month investigation dubbed “Operation Dead End,” which began in the summer of 2013. Officials said the criminal organizations ran their activities out of two dead end streets in Asbury Park – Dewitt Avenue and from a section of Jersey Street in the Washington Village Public Housing Complex.

The investigation revealed that the members of the criminal organizations acted together to commit a series of armed robberies, residential burglaries, and thefts. Their organized shoplifting ring had an established relationship with owners of a local pawnshop, officials said.

They regularly conspired to commit several different firearms-related offenses and distributed narcotics,  including cocaine, heroin, oxycodone, and molly – a form of ecstasy.

“These convictions are the result of a coordinated team effort between the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and our federal, state and local partners in law enforcement,” Gramiccioni said. “It’s also important to note that the conviction of Keith German is in no way a reflection of our law enforcement community. He made choices that reflect adversely upon him, not on the hard-working men and women of the Asbury Park Police Department who continue to do an exceptional work for the citizens of the city.” 

The case was prosecuted by Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutors Matthew Bogner and Joseph Cummings. German is represented by Robert P. Ward of Brick, Fair by Jeffrey W. Coghlan of Freehold, and Walker by George Mardinly of Rumson.

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