Six Indicted
Division of Criminal Justice 
John J. Farmer, Jr., Attorney General 
Paul H. Zoubek, Director 



January 10, 2000 

Six Indicted in Connection With Graffiti Rings, Terroristic Threats 
TRENTON - Attorney General John J. Farmer, Jr. today announced the indictment of six men in connection with the activity of organized graffiti vandals who allegedly defaced public buildings and property in Middlesex County and threatened violence against one of their own who had begun cooperating with law enforcement. 

In an 11-count state grand jury indictment handed up today, two of the six defendants - Robert Derczo, 19, of Woodbridge Township and Joseph Tierney, 20, of Perth Amboy - are charged with inflicting thousands of dollars worth of vandalism damage by marring commercial buildings, highway overpasses owned by the state of New Jersey and other property with graffiti. 

Tierney and four other defendants are also charged with committing acts of vandalism and making terroristic threats against a fellow graffiti vandal who had begun  cooperating with investigators. 

The four other defendants charged with retaliating against a witness and/or making terroristic threats include Christopher Kattiya-Aree, 23, of Edison, Luis Mejias, 20, of Perth Amboy, David Szucs, 22, of Piscataway and Michael Rackett, 19, of Perth Amboy. 

Farmer said today's indictment was generated by an investigation into the vandalism activity of two loosely organized groups who engaged in the illegal practice of graffiti "tagging." 

The Attorney General described tagging as writing one's unique graffiti nickname on walls, vehicles, bridge and highway infrastructure and other targets. Typically tagging is done using paint, Magic Marker and other difficult-to-remove materials, he explained. 

Calling itself FYM for "Free Your Mind," one of the graffiti groups was responsible for damage to a variety of commercial properties in Woodbridge Township and elsewhere. Charged in counts one through five of the indictment is FYM's Derczo, who allegedly used the graffiti tagging monikor "Hantos." 

Derczo is charged with vandalizing a Sports Authority store, a privately-owned building, a business known as the Sitar Company, a shopping plaza and a PNC bank building between July and October 1998 in Woodbridge. 

Tierney allegedly used the tagging nicknames "Rime" and "Guilt." He is charged with taking part in the Sitar Company vandalism and with causing vandalism damage to a state-owned overpass at Route 184 and Route 440 in Perth Amboy. 

According to Paul H. Zoubek, Director of the Division of Criminal Justice, both Tierney and Kattiya-Aree were members not only of FYM but a second group dedicated to graffiti vandalism that called itself KCW for "Killing City Walls." 

As a result of his alleged tagging activities, Tierney is charged with two counts of criminal mischief and one count of retaliation against a witness or informant. 

Others who were allegedly active with FYM are Kattiya-Aree, who is accused of using the tagging monikor "Chip." Szucs allegedly used the tagging nickname "Lil." Both Szucs and Kattiya-Aree are charged with one count each of retaliation against a witness. 

Rackett, who allegedly was a member of KCW but not FYM, is charged with one count each of retaliating against a witness and making terroristic threats. Rackett's alleged tagging nickname was "Unok." 

Mejias, another accused KCW member, is charged with one count of retaliation against a witness. Mejias' alleged tagging nickname was "2-Tek." 

Attorney General Farmer said the witness retaliation and terroristic threats counts are linked to the alleged efforts of FYM and KCW members to silence a fellow tagger who had begun cooperating with state investigators. 

Farmer said the cooperating tagger, who is listed as an unindicted co-conspirator in connection with the crimes outlined in today's indictment, was consistently pressured by his fellow vandals not to aid law enforcement. 

Those charged in today's indictment are accused of assaulting their fellow tagger and threatening the witness with physical harm if he agreed to testify in any prosecution. A friend of the cooperating witness was also allegedly threatened with violence, the Attorney General noted. 

Farmer said the cooperating vandal has already pleaded guilty to an accusation charging him with conspiracy to commit criminal mischief. 

In the case of both graffiti groups, the vandals allegedly kept written journals detailing their graffiti exploits, magazines devoted to graffiti activity and news clippings that documented their crimes. 

"Although some may view graffiti tagging activity as harmless, this indictment should serve as a warning to anyone who would deface buildings and property - we take these acts of vandalism very seriously. Such crimes work against New Jersey's efforts to enhance the quality of life for all residents and we will prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law," Farmer said. 

"The other charges outlined in this indictment - retaliation against a witness and making terroristic threats - also illustrate that this kind of activity can escalate and lead to potentially dangerous situations." 

Five of the six criminal mischief charges outlined in today's indictment represent third degree crimes punishable by between three and five years in prison and a $7,500 fine. One criminal mischief count, against defendant Tierney, is a fourth degree crime punishable by a maximum of 18 months in prison and a fine of $10,000. 

Retaliation against a witness or informant is a fourth degree offense that carries a penalty of up to 18 months in prison and a fine of $10,000. Making terroristic threats is a third degree crime punishable by between three and five years in prison and a fine of up to $7,500. 

Five of the six defendants named in today's indictment were arrested previously and are currently free on bail. A summons will be issued for the arrest of Mejias. 

Today's indictment was handed up to Superior Court Judge Linda Feinberg in Mercer County and allocated to Middlesex County for trial. 

The case was investigated by the Operations Bureau of the Division of Criminal Justice in conjunction with the Woodbridge and Perth Amboy police departments. It was presented to the grand jury by Deputy Attorney General Lewis Korngut. 

An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until convicted.