A member of the "Up da Hill" gang in Cherry Hill was sentenced Friday to 24 years in federal prison and five years of supervised release.
Michael Smith, known as "Lil Mikey," admitted to killing Charles Pratt on August 9, 2009, according to news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. The rival gang member was killed in the 600 block of Cherry Hill Road. The 23-year-old Smith also admitted to being involved in a shootout on August 17, 2009 that left one victim with a non-fatal gunshot wound. The gang is involved with drug trafficking in the area, to which Smith was likely involved, prosecutors said.
The gang operates in Cherry Hill and has rivalries over drug sales and area control with Coppin Court and Little Spelman, two other area gangs.