Feds bust B’klyn Crips drug ring

An oft-arrested gangbanger who slept with a pistol under his pillow and six accused drug-dealing cohorts were arrested Thursday on federal charges of peddling drugs and guns in their Brooklyn, neighborhood.

The defendants included members of the Eight Trey Cowboy Crips, a dangerous gang that operates in Flatbush. The arrests followed an investigation that began in 2017 and involved wiretaps and a confidential informant.

The feds arranged a dozen drug purchases using the informant while recording conversations on the phone of alleged drug trafficker Rahmel (Mello) Smith, collecting damning evidence and months’ worth of criminal chatter, officials said.

Smith and co-defendant Shakim (Sha) Carr were heard talking about “DL” — a reference to dog food, a street name for smack, according to a criminal complaint.

Suspect Michael (Scooter) Martin, whose latest arrest came Jan. 2 for possession of a Taser, posted a photo on social media in October showing his eyes closed and his hand wrapped around a gun tucked under his pillow (photo).

“That’s my first day out,” the five-time convicted criminal wrote with a smiley face.

Martin appeared in court wearing a tracksuit in blue — the color of the Crips.

“We will defend the charges vigorously,” said defense lawyer Mitchell Elman.

Arrested with Smith and Martin, 26, were Carr, a parolee with seven criminal convictions; Jamal (Vook) Aldridge, the target of a dozen bench warrants since 2012; and thrice-convicted Shawn Taylor, a dad of four. Authorities busted two female conspirators, Tiffany Lanier and Shakayna Wheeler.

Taylor and Smith were also accused of selling the informant an AK-47 rifle, a .25caliber pistol and ammunition during a Dec. 21 meeting.