FREEHOLD — An Ocean County man has been sentenced to 17 years in state prison for his role in leading a criminal street gang operation across Monmouth County, Monmouth County First Assistant Prosecutor Julia Alonso announced Thursday.
Xavier “HS” Reed, 34, of Jackson Township, received the sentence from Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Jill G. O’Malley on July 9. Reed had previously pleaded guilty to first-degree racketeering conspiracy.
Investigators identified Reed as a high-ranking member of the G-Shine set of the Bloods gang, and said he attempted to unite rival factions — including G-Shine Bloods, 47 NHC, and the Grape Street Crips — under a single criminal enterprise. According to prosecutors, his leadership contributed to a wave of gang violence in Asbury Park, Neptune, and Freehold, including the transfer of firearms, drug distribution, assaults, dogfighting, and multiple shootings.
The enterprise’s activity coincided with the March 2020 shooting death of 24-year-old Christian Lahens of Asbury Park. In a related case, Nahzee Z. Coger, 21, was sentenced to 15 years in prison earlier this year for aggravated manslaughter in connection with Lahens’ death.
Reed’s sentence falls under the No Early Release Act (NERA), requiring him to serve 85 percent before becoming eligible for parole. He will also be subject to five years of parole supervision upon release.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutors Matthew Bogner and Joseph Cummings, directors of the Major Crimes and Narcotics & Criminal Enterprise bureaus, respectively. Reed was represented by attorney Michael Cirigliano of Iselin.
A total of 29 other defendants previously pleaded guilty to charges including racketeering conspiracy, aggravated manslaughter, attempted murder, weapons offenses, drug distribution, and dogfighting.
