Supreme proved to be a superb leader. He was organized, charismatic, and intelligent. He allowed Latinos to join his crew. Supreme realized that having Latino faces on the Supreme Team was good for business. Not only did Latinos dominate the world of cocaine distribution, but the Colombians were the superstars of that world. And Supreme wanted access to the Colombians.
In July of 1985, Fat Cat was arrested and tossed into jail. And even though Fat Cat continued to run his empire from behind bars, a gap opened up. The name of the gap was "opportunity." Supreme and his team filled it. Almost overnight the Supreme Team got so rich and so powerful and so recklessly arrogant that they began wearing matching red jackets with the word "Supreme" embroidered on the backs.
The Supreme Team was riding high. They had wads of cash, expensive luxury cars, and lots of automatic weapons. They weren’t on top yet, but they were moving up fast. Their notoriety was growing and people were noticing. Some of the people who noticed were informants.
The cops noticed too.
Supreme made a mistake. He had a stash house located on 116th Avenue where he stored drugs and money. A lot of people knew where it was and what was in it. In September 1985, someone robbed it, walking off with $80,000 of Supreme’s cash. Angry, Supreme let it be known on the streets that he wanted his money back. He hoped his reputation would strike fear into the heart of the thief, who would be so frightened he’d give back the money.
Instead, Supreme’s reputation backfired on him. Informants, who had heard through the grapevine what went down, not only told the cops – the Queens Narcotics Squad – but gave the cops the address of another stash house, along with the address of Supreme’s headquarters on 231st Street, where Supreme ran his Team out of an apartment.
The Queens Narcotics Squad used the information to obtain a no-knock search warrant from Judge Steven Fisher. On September 10, 1985, the cops surrounded Supreme’s headquarters. Supreme and his crew were in the apartment, along with heroin, four pounds of cocaine, nine guns, and $31,608 in cash.
The cops shouted, “Police!” Then they hit the door of the apartment with a ram. Inside, they found Supreme and his crew frantically dumping white powder down the sink and toilets. Covered in what looked like powdered sugar, Supreme looked like the ghost of Christmas Past come to visit Scrooge. Supreme and his Team were arrested and booked.
Article comments
1 - Jermaine Drewlry
good read here. i always like to read articles on supreme and the team. im from s.jamaica queens so i remember all of this. im 35, but i have siblings in their late 40's early 50's. many of my family members were in this drug games so im well aware of this. i lived on 120th ave, guy r brewer blvd. it was known as new york blvd then. about a 5 min walk from baisley proj. my dad actually worked w supremes dad for over 20 yrs w the nyta. they both drove trains. my cousin was also james corley's right hand man. those were some days. i remember the supreme superett very well. if my memory is correct, preme used to own a cab company. my older brother and sis used them bc they drove olds '98s lol. i think if anyone could get ronnie bumps to do in interview or story, that would be great. he still sitting on mills from way back! i used to be friends w his daughter.
2 - Israel "Pito"
Article is fairly accurate with the exception of some minor details...Fat Pete was known as Big Pete and remembered when he died. Nevertheless its been over two decades. Certainly took me back. I had one of those supreme team jackets and one day my sister borrowed to go to the store and she came back screaming at me. She was oblivious to what it signified. The next day a member by the name of Iron Horse (deceased) enlightened me the danger of wearing that jacket. I was 16 and lived in building 2. 163-11 Foch Blvd. Ernesto Pinella aka Puertorican Righteous was a menace and Prince was a good person to me. Gave me strong advice when I messed up 3000 dollars that I remember to this day. They did have a fondness for latins...Prince once commented how brave/bold they can be. The decisions I've made those days...lets just say I wish I can do things diffently.
3 - Ron "Tuck" Tucker
Pito, what's good Homey... Pito and I were young teenagers in this game. We wore the jackets proudly and in our maturity, see the destruction and stupidity of our youth. Pito, get in touch. [Personal contact info deleted]
4 - black
Prince was a real dude but what about big rick and cigar and lil prince on suptin pinkshade was them dudes to
5 - black
Black cliff hyme cornbread green door danny hilda dont get me wrong much luv to the supreme team but u had niggers that was getting it like preme and lay that game down
6 - black queen
iron horse is my uncle i hear so many things about him, what a legend....sleep in peace
7 - black
Who black cliff was that dude