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Three Cherry Hill gang members sentenced to federal prison

Three members of the Baltimore gang "Up da Hill" were sentenced by a federal judge to 10, 15 and almost 23 years in federal prison on Friday for gang-related racketeering, which included drug trafficking.

Asim Benns was a member of the gang based in Cherry Hill, as well as the Black Guerilla Family. The 33 year-old was sentenced to 275 months in prison and five years of supervised release.

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Benns, who is known as "Seem," was involved in the killing of two rival gang members, stole a total of $11,100 from two banks and ran a heroin shop in "Up da Hill" territory, according to his plea agreement.

Donte Thorton, 30, and James Scott, 24, received 15 and 10 years in prison, respectively. Thorton, of Baltimore, participated in a bank robbery and participated in a 2003 shooting and 2007 killing of a rival gang member, according to his plea agreement. The three men also conspired to distribute heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine and marijuana.

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"Up da Hill" has known rivalries related to drug trafficking and area control with Coppin Court and Little Spelman, two other local gangs, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Thirty-five Cherry Hill gang members have entered guilty pleas since a 2013 investigation by local police and federal authorities.

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