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00:00:00 – 00:17:12
The video chronicles the violent reign of Clarence "Preacher" Heatley and his Preacher Crew in New York. Known for extreme brutality, the gang operated like a cult, conducting deadly "trials" in a basement dungeon and employing "janitors," experienced killers who cleaned up murder scenes. The crew's activities included drug trafficking, extortion, kidnappings, and contract killings, notably the alleged kidnapping of singer Bobby Brown and the tragic abduction of Donnell Porter, orchestrated by his own uncle. The kidnapping of Donnell, who was found dead, and the subsequent murder of his brother Rich Porter by Alpo, exposed the crew's ruthless nature. An informant's cooperation led to a large-scale RICO indictment against the gang, with Heatley eventually pleading guilty to 13 murders. By cooperating with authorities, Heatley avoided the death penalty but received a life sentence plus 225 years, solidifying his legacy as one of the most feared figures in New York's criminal history.
00:00:00
In this part of the video, the focus is on Clarence “Preacher” Heatley, a notorious gangster from New York, who was involved in 45 homicides and described as both psychopathic and remorseless. He led the Preacher Crew, a gang likened to a cult, and operated with extreme violence, often kidnapping and torturing rival drug dealers and their families. The gang conducted gruesome “trials” in a basement dungeon, with verdicts of life or death decided by a vote. Cleanup was handled by a specialized group called “janitors,” who were marked by a specific tattoo. These janitors had to be experienced killers. Heatley, born in Harlem in the early 1950s, was physically imposing and known for his manipulative charisma, earning him the nickname “Preacher.” His criminal activities included stealing cars from drug dealers and robbing local stores.
00:03:00
In this part of the video, the focus is on the notorious preacher crew and its leader’s reign of terror. Preacher, known for his black Mercedes, started his criminal activities in 1983, commanding a gang infamous for its violence consisting of 25 to 50 members, including his children. As a strict authoritarian leader, Preacher enforced rigid rules among his members, punishing any violations severely. His second-in-command, John Cuff, a rogue police officer, offered protection and actively participated in criminal activities. The crew was involved in drug trafficking, extortion, contract killings, and kidnappings, with two infamous cases being the alleged kidnapping of singer Bobby Brown and the known kidnapping of Danielle Porter, Rich Porter’s younger brother.
00:06:00
In this part of the video, the narrator recounts the 1993 incident where Bobby Brown, entangled in cocaine addiction and legal troubles, owed $25,000 to a New Jersey drug dealer. The dealer, at a party, discussed his intent to kill Bobby over the debt with members of the preacher crew. Instead of fleeing, they saw an opportunity and negotiated to assume Bobby’s debt. Having paid the dealer, the preacher crew hunted Bobby, eventually kidnapping him outside a club with the help of a woman who lured him out. They held him in a Bronx apartment, beat him, and demanded $400,000. Ultimately, his wife Whitney Houston, in disguise, delivered the ransom.
The infamous December 1989 kidnapping of 12-year-old Donnell Porter, brother of Harlem legend Rich Porter, is also detailed. Orchestrated by their uncle, Johnny “Apple” Porter, in collusion with the preacher crew, Donnell was taken four blocks from home. Apple saw Rich’s wealth as an opportunity and convinced the preacher crew to demand a $500,000 ransom. The family received threatening calls from the kidnappers, heightening their distress.
00:09:00
In this part of the video, the kidnappers initially demanded a ransom higher than what the Porter family could afford. They later lowered their demand to $350,000 and instructed the family to go to a specific McDonald’s, where they found a coffee can containing Danelle’s severed index finger, two rings, and a cassette tape. The tape had a heartbreaking message from Danelle pleading for help. Shockingly, Danelle’s uncle, Apple, was behind the kidnapping. Despite the family’s attempt to negotiate, the kidnappers stopped communicating after a third call, leading the family to contact the police. Rich, attempting to raise the ransom, hit up people who owed him money, but received no further communication until a neighborhood boy delivered a letter from the kidnappers demanding money and stating Danelle needed medical attention.
00:12:00
In this segment of the video, the narrative covers the tragic sequence of events following the kidnapping of Dannell Porter and the murder of Rich Porter by Alpo on December 5th and January 3rd, respectively. Alpo murdered Rich to avoid paying a debt, despite Rich needing the money to secure Dannell’s release. This action devastated Dannell’s family and left the kidnappers with no reason to release him; Dannell was later found dead, wrapped in 14 garbage bags, three weeks after Rich’s body was discovered. The incident was highly publicized and led to the formation of the C11 squad by the NYPD and FBI to combat drug-related violence in New York. In April 1994, a member of the preacher crew cooperated with authorities, revealing internal purges and detailing the brutal murder of Malik, who was killed by his own gang in March 1994. Malik, an ex-military and extremely violent member of the preacher crew, was lured to a basement, shot, dismembered, and his head desecrated. The basement had been used repeatedly by the preacher crew as a torture chamber for their victims.
00:15:00
In this segment, the video details the operations and brutal practices of the Preacher Crew, a criminal gang. The gang would vote on whether a person needed to be killed in their dungeon, with the majority deciding the victim’s fate. The victims were dismembered, and their remains discarded in abandoned buildings. Certain members, called “janitors,” were responsible for cleaning up after the murders, a role considered prestigious within the gang. This resulted in widespread fear, helping them dominate the streets.
An informant eventually exposed the gang’s activities to the police, leading to a 47-count RICO indictment which included multiple charges such as murder and drug trafficking. Clarence “Preacher” Heatley, the gang leader, pleaded guilty to 13 murders and avoided the death penalty by cooperating with the authorities, providing information on his crew and even his own children. He was sentenced to life in prison plus 225 years, cementing his reputation as one of New York’s most feared gangsters. The video concludes by inviting viewers to engage with more content.