A high-ranking North Carolina leader of the Nine Trey
Gangsters set of the United Blood Nation (UBN or Bloods) street gang, was
sentenced today to 19 years in prison for racketeering conspiracy. Also sentenced today were two other members
of the Bloods gang. Sixty-seven
defendants have now either pleaded guilty or have been convicted at trial.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the
Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney R. Andrew Murray for the
Western District of North Carolina, and Special Agent in Charge John A. Strong
of the FBI Charlotte, North Carolina Field Division, made the announcement.
Cynthia Gilmore, aka Cynthia Young and Lady Bynt, 43, of
Raleigh, North Carolina, was sentenced by Chief Judge Frank D. Whitney to serve
228 months in prison. Gilmore had been
convicted, together with UBN Godfathers Pedro Gutierrez and James Baxton, by a
federal jury sitting in Charlotte on May 17, following a two-week trial. In addition, two other Bloods members were
also sentenced today. Robert Allen
McClinton, aka Trigga, 29, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was sentenced by Judge
Whitney to serve 43 months in prison.
Renaldo Rodregus Camp, aka Rodeo and Drop, 40, of Shelby, North
Carolina, was sentenced by Judge Whitney to serve 70 months in prison.
“As a trusted leader of the Nine Trey Gangsters, Cynthia
Gilmore played an integral role in the gang’s violent mission by trafficking
narcotics, robbing other drug dealers, and acting as a communications conduit
for Pedro Gutierrez, the gang’s incarcerated leader who had previously ordered
a gang war,” said Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski. “Now totaling 67 defendants adjudicated
guilty, the Department of Justice’s prosecution of the Nine Trey Gangsters
continues to disrupt and weaken this violent prison and street gang, and serves
as a testament to what cooperation between federal, state, and local law
enforcement can accomplish.”
“Cynthia Gilmore was a gang member who had risen to the
leadership ranks within the Nine Trey Gangsters, a powerful set of the Bloods
in North Carolina, said U.S. Attorney Murray.
“As a gang member, Gilmore engaged in racketeering criminal acts,
including robbery and drug trafficking, to support the gang and pay her dues. As a trusted gang leader, Gilmore had direct
access to the gang’s highest leadership, including to the Bloods’ Godfather,
Pedro Gutierrez, with whom she had face-to-face meetings while he was
incarcerated in New York. As the
Godfather’s messenger, Gilmore assisted Gutierrez in maintaining control over
the gang, and made certain that other gang members knew, understood, and
executed Gutierrez’s orders. With
another Bloods leader and two more gang members put behind bars, my office
continues our work to dismantle criminal enterprises and to protect the people
of the Western District from violent street gangs.”
In February 2017, President Donald Trump directed the
Department of Justice “to reduce crime in America,” and Attorney General Jeff
Sessions has made violent crime reduction and eliminating gangs a priority
during his tenure. In June 2018, the Attorney General announced the largest
increase in Assistant U.S. Attorneys—311 new prosecutors, including eight in
North Carolina—to combat violent crime and carry out other Department
priorities.
Additionally, Attorney General Sessions last year announced
a reinvigorated Project Safe Neighborhoods program aimed at reducing the rising
tide of violent crime in America. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western
District of North Carolina is an active participant in PSN.
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein mentioned many of
these announcements and more when he delivered remarks in August to the 17th
Annual Gangs Across the Carolinas Conference, a conference which Attorney
General Sessions delivered remarks to in August 2017.
According to court documents and evidence presented at
trial, the UBN is a violent criminal street gang operating throughout the east
coast of the United States since it was founded as a prison gang in 1993. UBN members are often identified by their use
of the color red, and can also often be identified by common tattoos or burn
marks. Examples include: a three-circle
pattern, usually burned onto the upper arm, known as a “dog paw”; the acronym
“M.O.B.,” which stands for “Member of Bloods”; the words “damu,” or “eastside”;
the number five; the five-pointed star; and the five-pointed crown. UBN members have distinct hand signs and
written codes, which are used to identify other members and rival gang
members. The Nine Trey Gangster set of
the UBN refer to themselves as “Billies.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at
trial, the UBN is governed by a common set of 31 rules, known as “The 31,”
which were originally written by the founders of the UBN. Members of the UBN are expected to conduct
themselves and their illegal activity according to rules and regulations set by
their leaders. Prominent among these is
a requirement to pay monthly dues to the organization, often in the amounts of
$31 or $93. A percentage of these funds
are transferred to incarcerated UBN leadership in New York; these funds also
are used locally to conduct gang business.
UBN gang dues are derived from illegal activity performed by subordinate
UBN members including narcotics trafficking, robberies, wire fraud, and bank
fraud, among other forms of illegal racketeering activities.
According to court documents and evidence presented at
trial, the Nine Trey Gangsters’ leadership proceeds in rank, from lowest to
highest, from “Scrap,” “1-Star General” through “5-Star General,” “Low,”
“High,” and “Godfather.”
Evidence at trial established that Gilmore was a
high-ranking leader of the Nine Trey Gangsters in North Carolina with the rank
of “Low,” and that she was involved in drug trafficking and the robbery of
other drug dealers. Evidence also
established that Gilmore traveled regularly between North Carolina and New York
State, where she met with Pedro Gutierrez, the highest ranking leader of the
United Blood Nation, who was incarcerated at the time. Evidence further established that Gilmore
assisted Gutierrez’s control of the Bloods organization in North Carolina by
sending him dues and by passing along communications from Gutierrez to other
gang leaders and members.
In all, 67 defendants have been adjudicated guilty in this
case, including the three defendants who were found guilty at trial; 64
defendants have pleaded guilty in this investigation. Twelve defendants in high-ranking leadership
positions have been convicted:
Montraya Antwain
Atkinson, aka Hardbody, 31, of Raleigh, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to
racketeering conspiracy. According to
the factual basis of his plea agreement, Atkinson admitted to holding the
leadership rank of “High,” and admitted to possessing marijuana and cocaine with
intent to distribute, and to purchasing and selling powder cocaine. Atkinson was sentenced on Aug. 21 to a term
of 208 months in prison;
James Baxton, aka
Frank White and Grown, 44, of New York City, New York, was convicted at trial on May 17. Trial evidence established that Baxton was a
“Worldwide High” of the Nine Trey Gangsters and that, while incarcerated in the
New York State Department of Corrections, Baxton trafficked heroin within the
prison system and engaged in wire fraud by threatening the relatives of other
incarcerated inmates. Baxton was
sentenced on Sept. 4 to a term of 240 months in prison, to be served federally
after completing a term in New York State prison;
Adrian Nayron
Coker, aka Gotti, 28, of Gastonia, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to
racketeering conspiracy and three counts of possession with intent to
distribute narcotics. According to the
factual basis of his plea agreement, Coker admitted to holding the leadership
rank of “Low,” and to possessing a stolen firearm and ammunition, despite
having previously been convicted of a felony.
Coker was also recorded discussing a potential murder of a rival gang
member. Coker was sentenced on June 18,
to a term of 140 months in prison;
Pedro Gutierrez,
aka Magoo, Light, and Inferno, of New York City, New York, was convicted at
trial on May 17. Based on evidence
introduced during the trial, Gutierrez was a “Godfather” of the Nine Trey
Gangsters and had served since 2003 as the “Chairman” of the council that
governs the UBN. As the Godfather of the
set, Gutierrez, along with Baxton, conducted gang business and participated in
the distribution of gang dues while incarcerated in the New York State
Department of Corrections. Trial evidence also established that Gutierrez ordered
a gang war in North Carolina in 2011, directing that members of the Bloods gang
attack and kill members of a renegade gang called Pretty Tony. The war resulted
in numerous injuries among inmates and the lockdown of five North Carolina
prisons for six months. Gutierrez was
sentenced on Sept. 4 to a term of 240 months in prison, to be served
consecutively to the remainder of a New York State sentence for murder;
Bianca Kiashie
Harrison, aka Lady Gunz, 28, of Midway Park, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to
racketeering conspiracy. According to
the factual basis of her plea agreement, Harrison admitted to holding the
leadership rank of “High,” and to participating, at facilities within the New
York Department of Corrections, in gang leadership meetings with alleged UBN
Godfathers Gutierrez and Baxton.
Harrison was sentenced on June 18, to a term of 32 months in prison;
Quincy Delone
Haynes, aka Black Montana, 39, of Lawndale, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to
racketeering conspiracy and three counts of trafficking cocaine. According to the factual basis of this plea
agreement, Haynes admitted to holding the leadership rank of “Low.” Haynes was sentenced on Aug. 15, to a term of
64 months in prison;
Bobby Earl Hines,
aka Swahili Red, 35, of North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering
conspiracy. According to the factual
basis of his plea agreement, Hines admitted to holding the leadership rank of
“High”;
Barrington Audley
Lattibeaudiere, aka Bandana and Bobby Seale, 31, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida,
pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to commit wire
fraud. According to the factual basis of
his plea agreement, Lattibeaudiere admitted to holding the leadership rank of
“High,” and coordinating the transmission of hundreds of dollars of UBN gang
dues to Gutierrez and Baxton. Lattibeaudiere further admitted to participating
in a scheme to make and attempt to make over $64,000 in purchases using
fraudulent credit and gift cards.
Lattibeaudiere was sentenced on June 19, to serve 56 months in prison;
MyQuan Lamar
Nelson, aka Dripz, 27, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to
racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute
heroin, and according to the factual basis of his plea agreement admitted to
holding the leadership rank of “Low;”
Omari Rosero, aka
Uno B, 41, of Elmira, New York, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy. During his plea, Omari Rosero admitted to
holding the leadership rank of “High,” and to serving as an acting “Godfather”
of the entire UBN. Rosero was sentenced
on July 31, to 87 months in prison, to be served federally after completing a
sentence in New York State;
Porsha Talina
Rosero, aka Lady Uno B, 35, of Syracuse, New York, pleaded guilty to
racketeering conspiracy. Rosero admitted
to participating in the distribution of gang dues, and to participating in a
phone call during which Omari Rosero stated that a suspected cooperator would
be “faded straight up.” Porsha Rosero
was sentenced on July 31, to serve 21 months in prison; and
Tywlain Wilson,
aka 5 Alive, 25, of Shelby, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering
conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and firearm
possession in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to the factual basis of his plea
agreement, Wilson admitted to holding the leadership rank of “Low.” Wilson was sentenced on July 30, to serve 82
months in prison.
The following 34 defendants have also pleaded guilty and
have been sentenced in this investigation:
Sherman Devante
Addison, aka Ace, 24, of Lawndale, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to
racketeering conspiracy. Addison was
sentenced on Aug. 15, to serve 33 months in prison;
Freddrec Deandre
Banks, aka Drec and Banga, 22, of Shelby, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to
racketeering conspiracy. Banks was
sentenced on Aug. 14, to serve 33 months in prison;
Destinee Danyell
Blakeney, aka Lady Rude, 23, of Morven, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to
racketeering conspiracy. Blakeney was
sentenced on July 31, to serve 18 months in prison;
Shakira Monique
Campbell, aka Lady Rage, 24, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to
possession of cocaine. Campbell was
sentenced to serve eight months in prison;
Brandon Khalil
Covington, aka Blokka, 25, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to
racketeering conspiracy and to possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug
trafficking. Covington was sentenced to
serve 87 months in prison
Alex Levi Cox, aka
Quick, 28, of Loris, South Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering
conspiracy. Cox was sentenced on Aug.
21, to serve 17 months in prison;
Richard Diaz, aka
Damu, 34, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering
conspiracy. Diaz was sentenced on Aug.
15, to serve 33 months in prison;
Christopher Dentre
Hamrick, aka Red Dot, 29, of Shelby, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to
racketeering conspiracy and to possession of a firearm by a convicted
felon. Hamrick was sentenced on May 30,
to serve 64 months in prison;
Lavaughn Antonio
Hanton, aka Killem and Billy-D, 35, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded
guilty to racketeering conspiracy.
Hanton was sentenced on Aug. 21, to 216 months in prison;
Anthony ONeil
Harrison, aka Ant, 20, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to
racketeering conspiracy. Harrison was
sentenced on June 25, to serve 27 months in prison;
Delonte Maurice
Hicks, aka BBB Shooter and Black, 29, of Bennettsville, South Carolina, pleaded
guilty to racketeering conspiracy. Hicks
was sentenced on May 31, to serve 24 months in prison;
Raheam Shumar
Hopper, aka Bone, 24, of Shelby, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering
conspiracy. Hopper was sentenced on June
20, to serve 27 months in prison;
Donl Lequintin
Hunsucker, aka Remy, 31, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to
racketeering conspiracy. Hunsucker was
sentenced on Aug. 15, to serve 52 months in prison;
Muhammad John
Jackson, aka Picasso, 33, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to
racketeering conspiracy. Jackson was sentenced
on Aug. 21, to serve 27 months in prison;
Terrence Thomas
Johnsom, aka Sypher, 41, of Durham, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to
racketeering conspiracy. Johnsom was
sentenced on May 30, to serve 57 months in prison;
Joe Tarpeh
Johnson, aka JR, Big Pusha and Kutthroat, 26, of Charlotte, North Carolina,
pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and to conspiracy to commit wire
fraud. Johnson was sentenced on April
28, to serve 31 months in prison;
Latif Nakia
Antoine Johnson, aka Billy Solo, 24, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded
guilty to racketeering conspiracy.
Johnson was sentenced on July 9, to serve 18 months in prison;
Rashad Monte King,
aka Billy Kilo Montana, 26, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to
racketeering conspiracy. King was
sentenced on July 30, to serve 25 months in prison;
David Matthew
Lowe, aka Gucci, 26, of Shelby, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering
conspiracy. Lowe was sentenced on May
29, to serve 24 months in prison;
Charles Kenyon
Lytle, aka Kam, 40, of Concord, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering
conspiracy and to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Lytle was sentenced on Aug. 22, to serve 46
months in prison;
Brandon Theodore
Manning, aka Billy B, 29, of Columbia, South Carolina, pleaded guilty to
racketeering conspiracy. Manning was
sentenced on July 31, to serve 21 months in prison;
Travis McClain,
aka Fridaay Daa Thuurteenth, 27, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty
to racketeering conspiracy. McClain was
sentenced on Aug. 14, to serve 27 months in prison;
Isaac Nabah
McIntosh, aka Mac, 27, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to
racketeering conspiracy. McIntosh was
sentenced on July 30, to serve 18 months in prison;
D’Angelo De’Mara
McNeil, aka Dutch, 27, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to
racketeering conspiracy. McNeil was
sentenced on June 20, to serve 33 months in prison;
Kolawole Olalekan
Omotosho, aka Rugged Red, 19, of Jacksonville, North Carolina, pleaded guilty
to racketeering conspiracy. Omotosho was
sentenced on May 29, to serve 33 months in prison;
James Brandin
Pegues, 31, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy. Pegues was sentenced on May 29, to serve 33
months in prison;
Deshawn Deonta
Peterkin, aka Proo, 29, of Wallace, South Carolina, pleaded guilty to
racketeering conspiracy. Peterkin was
sentenced on June 25, to serve 21 months in prison;
Austin Demontry
Potts, aka Big Tek and B-Tek, 24, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty
to racketeering conspiracy. Potts was
sentenced on May 29, to serve 30 months in prison;
Rashad Sattar, 20,
of Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and to
conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Sattar
was sentenced on Aug. 22, to serve 33 months in prison;
Anthony Bernard
Smith, aka Redd Lion, 25, of Gastonia, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to
racketeering conspiracy. Smith was sentenced
on April 23, to serve 44 months in prison;
Cedric Surratt,
aka Hollywood, 5-Star and Lingo, 30, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded
guilty to racketeering conspiracy.
Surratt was sentenced on June 20, to serve 28 months in prison;
Peatrez Lamar
Teaste, aka P-Wheezy, 25, of Loris, South Carolina, pleaded guilty to
racketeering conspiracy. Teaste was
sentenced on Aug. 21, to serve 109 months in prison;
Lavon Christopher
Turner, aka Hungry, 28, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to
racketeering conspiracy and to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Turner was sentenced on April 23, to serve 35
months in prison; and
Jesse James
Watkins, aka Showtime, 34, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to
racketeering conspiracy. Watkins was
sentenced on July 30, to serve 27 months in prison.
The following 19
defendants have also pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing in this case:
Aaron Demitri
Alexander, aka A Dawg, 25, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty on July
9, to racketeering conspiracy;
Antarious Quashard
Byers, aka Bang, 25, of Shelby, North Carolina, pleaded guilty on Aug. 28, to
racketeering conspiracy;
Renaldo Rodregus
Camp, aka Rodeo and Drop, 40, of Shelby, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to
racketeering conspiracy and to possession with intent to distribute cocaine;
Marquel Michael
Cunningham, aka Omega, 22, of Shelby, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to
racketeering conspiracy;
James Walter
Dowdle, aka Staxx, 25, of Shelby, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to
racketeering conspiracy and use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of
violence;
John Paul Durant,
aka JP, Glock and Gudda, 29, of Shelby, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to
racketeering conspiracy;
Shamon Movair Goins,
aka Rugie, 28, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering
conspiracy;
Jasmin Reikeem
Hicks, aka Rude, 28, of Morven, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering
conspiracy;
Wesley Javon
Howze, aka Drama, 22, of Shelby, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering
conspiracy;
Juan Cruz Leon,
aka Jefe, 22, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering
conspiracy;
Terry Lavon
Maddox, aka Turbo, 27, of Shelby, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to
racketeering conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base;
Robert Allen
McClinton, aka Trigga, 29, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering
conspiracy and two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base;
Christopher Lashon
Miller, aka Dro, 24, of Shelby, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering
conspiracy;
Johnny Thomas
Mitchell, aka Joker, 38, of Shelby, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to
racketeering conspiracy;
Christopher
O’Brien Moore, aka Ratchet, 23, of Shelby, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to
racketeering conspiracy;
Kenneth Marquise
Ruff, aka Red Hot, 28, of Shelby, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to
racketeering conspiracy;
Isaiah Devon
Stallworth, aka Zay and Juice, 25, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty
on Jan. 5, to racketeering conspiracy and to use of a firearm in furtherance of
a crime of violence;
Jhad Elijah Thorbourne,
aka Flight, 24, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty on July 19, to
racketeering conspiracy; and
Patrick Wray, aka
Ike and Murda, 30, of Shelby, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to racketeering
conspiracy.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI; the Charlotte
Mecklenburg Police Department; the Shelby Police Department; the Cleveland
County Sheriff’s Office; the Gastonia Police Department; the North Carolina
State Highway Patrol; the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office; the North Carolina
Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice; the North Carolina
Department of Motor Vehicles; the U.S. Federal Probation; the U.S. Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the IRS Criminal Investigation; the
U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command;
and the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, Office of
Special Investigations. Trial Attorneys
Andrew L. Creighton and Beth Lipman of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime
and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matt Warren and Christopher Hess
for the Western District of North Carolina are prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of an extensive investigation by
the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF is a joint federal, state, and local
cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary
tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting
national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating
the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle
the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.
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