Harvey Hustlers gang members sentenced to 20 years in prison in drug racketeering case

Two more of the 21 members of the West Jefferson-based Harvey Hustlers street gang who were charged in a 30-count indictment last year were sentenced to 20 years in prison Thursday (Jan. 28), as part of plea agreements with the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office.

Bryant Gumms, 24, and Derrick Gumms, 27, siblings who lived in Harvey, each pleaded guilty to racketeering, conspiracy to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to distribute heroin. Judge Henry Sullivan of the 24th Judicial District Court accepted their pleas and handed down the sentences.

The Gumms brothers admitted to roles in the criminal enterprise whose soldiers funneled cocaine and heroin into the area from Texas and sold the narcotics on New Orleans-area streets. The racketeering offense involved the gang’s activities from January 2006 through January 2015, according to the bill of indictment.

The gang, whose roots date to the 1980s in Harvey’s Scotsdale neighborhood, protected its narcotics trafficking and distribution ring through its enforcement arm known as the Murder Squad. At least seven homicides have been tied to the Harvey Hustlers through the joint local and federal investigation, authorities say.

Through a cooperative effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana and the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office, prosecutors decided which jurisdiction to bring the Harvey Hustler cases. Federal prosecutors have handled numerous Harvey Hustler cases in U.S. District Court in New Orleans in recent years. In February 2015, the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office obtained a 30-count grand jury indictment in state court, naming 21 defendants.

Bryant Gumms and Derrick Gumms were among them. They were sentenced to 20 years for racketeering, 15 years for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and 20 years for conspiracy to distribute heroin.

Each man also pleaded guilty to being double offenders under Louisiana’s habitual offender law because of prior convictions of narcotics-related offenses. Sullivan increased their 15-year sentences for Count 2 of the indictment to 20 years. He ran the three sentences concurrently, for a total of 20 years in prison.

Of the 21 defendants, 14 have either pleaded guilty or were convicted at trial. A look of the defendants whose cases have been adjudicated shows:

  • Robert C. Williams, 24, of Avondale, was convicted by a Jefferson Parish jury as charged on Nov. 11 of racketeering, two counts of conspiracy to distribute narcotics, two counts of convicted felon in possession of a firearm, illegal possession of a stolen firearm and distribution of cocaine. He was sentenced to 120 years in prison on Jan. 19.
  • Alcus Smith, 29, of Harvey, stood trial with Williams and was convicted of racketeering, conspiracy to distribute narcotics and distribution of cocaine. He was sentenced to 65 years in prison on Nov. 17. The jury that handed up the verdict was unable to decide Smith’s charge of second-degree murder. Prosecutors plan to retry Smith for the second-degree murder charge.
  • Willie Thornton, 31, of Harvey, pleaded guilty Jan. 13 to racketeering, two counts of conspiracy to distribute narcotics and two counts of distribution of cocaine. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Jan. 13.
  • Lashawn Davis, 22, of Gretna, pleaded guilty as charged on Nov. 30 to racketeering, five counts of attempted second-degree murder and two counts of conspiracy to distribute narcotics. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
  • Davante D. Robertson, 21, of Gretna, pleaded guilty on Dec. 15 to racketeering and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Prosecutors dismissed five counts of attempted second-degree murder.
  • Ellis C. Landix, 30, of Marrero, pleaded guilty on Jan. 13 to conspiracy to distribute cocaine. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison as a multiple offender.
  • Paul Smith, 26, of Avondale, pleaded guilty Sept. 28, to racketeering, two counts of conspiracy to distribute narcotics, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute oxycodone. He was sentenced to eight years in prison.
  • Brandon J. Motton, 29, of New Orleans, pleaded guilty on Jan. 199, to racketeering, two counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, marijuana and heroin, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
  • Keitrel B. Gumms, 25, of Harvey, pleaded guilty Jan. 13 to racketeering, two counts conspiracy to distribute cocaine and marijuana, respectively, distribution of cocaine, distribution of marijuana and cruelty to juveniles. His sentencing is set for Feb. 29.
  • Stephanie J. Bradley, 44, of Harvey, pleaded guilty to racketeering on Oct. 19. Her sentencing is set for Feb. 16.
  • Corey H. Trent, 26, of Marrero, pleaded guilty on Aug 17, to racketeering, two counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, marijuana and cocaine, distribution of cocaine and cruelty to juveniles. He was sentenced to eight years on prison.
  • Kentaz R. Gayden, 28, of Harahan, pleaded guilty on Dec. 11 to racketeering and two counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, marijuana and heroin. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
  • Rasheed Smith, 25, of Westwego, pleaded guilty on Jan. 4 to racketeering and two counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, marijuana and heroin. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
  • Nathan Carter, 31, of Gretna, pleaded guilty on Oct. 8 to racketeering and conspiracy to distribute cocaine. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
  • Marlon Mercy, 38, of Fresno, Texas, was indicted separately in connection with the Harvey Hustlers in March 2015. He pleaded guilty on Oct. 23 to racketeering and conspiracy to distribute cocaine and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Five defendants still have open cases:

  • Charlie A. Gumms, 20, of Terrytown, remains charged with five counts of attempted second-degree murder, two counts of conspiracy to distribute narcotics and racketeering.
  • Charles D. Gumms, 21, of Terrytown, awaits trial on charges of racketeering, two counts of conspiracy to distribute narcotics, possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession or distribution of a legend drug without a prescription.
  • Richard L. Chess, 24, of Harvey, is charged with racketeering, two counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, marijuana and heroin, distribution of cocaine and cruelty to a juvenile.
  • Kerry J. Reynard, 26, of Marrero, is charged with racketeering and two counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, marijuana and heroin.
  • Carnell S. Pierce, 35, of Harvey, is charged with racketeering, two counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, marijuana and heroin, distribution of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant District Attorneys Doug Freese and Seth Shute prosecuted the cases.

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