Category: What’s New

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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Aaron Martin convicted of second-degree murder

Aaron “Mug” Martin was found guilty of 2nd degree murder on August 11, 2014 for killing Brian J. Banks Jr.

Martin was arrested on April 8th, 2012, the day after Bank’s body was found at the corner of 27th and Panama streets. Banks was shot six times with a 9 mm pistol. Martin also awaits trial for the charge of a felon in possession of a firearm. He had a previous conviction on his record, rendering his possession of a gun during the shooting of Banks illegal. The minimum sentence for 2nd degree murder is life imprisonment without parole.

 

Update: October 27th, 2014
Martin was sentenced on October 27th to life in prison.

Link to nola.com article

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Brad Engel pleads guilty to sexual abuse, sentenced

Brad Engel pled guilty to two counts of sexual battery of a child under the age of 13 on August 1st, 2014. Engel was sentenced to 29 years in prison.

Engel admitted to abusing the victim, who was 10 years old, between August of 2007 and May of 2008. Engel was initially charged with the crime and pled guilty in 2011. However, due to a technical error in charging, the conviction was vacated in December of that year.

Prosecutors have since rectified the issue with an indictment in February of this year. Despite having previously pled guilty to the same crimes, Engel pled not guilty and argued a defense of mental incompetence. Judge Ellen Kovach found Engel mentally competent on July 31st. Engel pled guilty the following day and was sentenced.

Horace Billiot indicted with oral sexual battery

Horace M. Billiot was charged with sexual abuse by a grand jury on July 31st, 2014.

Billiot was arrested in June on rape charges. The crime occurred between May 1st 2007 and August 31st 2009 when the victim was between 7 and 9 years old. The grand jury charged Billiot with oral sexual battery. If convicted, Billiot will face a minimum sentence of 25 years. Bond has been set at $500,000.

Officers arrest Randy Hall on animal cruelty charges

 

Randy Hall was arrested by Jefferson Parish Police officers on July 14, 2014 and charged with four counts of aggravated cruelty to animals.

Hall was evicted from his Harvey apartment in early June and left behind a number of animals. Three weeks passed before Hall’s landlord discovered the animals. Officers discovered an emaciated 1 year old pit bull on July 8th who had been surviving on rainwater. The dog was tethered to the 2nd floor balcony with a chain-link choke chain. The chain had to be surgically removed from the dog’s neck. Hall is in custody and bond has been set at $100,000.

Todd Bacchus pleads guilty to pandering, sentenced

Todd Bacchus was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment after pleading guilty to pandering on July 1st, 2014.

Bacchus was arrested in 2013 after an investigation by the Jefferson Parish Police Department led officers to Houston where Bacchus had transported a 17 year old girl and solicited her sexual services. During the investigation, Police found that Bacchus enticed women into prostitution and advertised their services online. Incidents occurred in both the Metairie area as well as Houston, Texas.

Bacchus had three women in his employment, whom he threatened these women with violence often. Bacchus was convicted of battery.

Bacchus was originally charged with trafficking children for sexual purposes, enticing persons to prostitution, and pandering. He pled guilty to 2 counts of pandering and 1 count of second degree battery. Bacchus was sentenced to 5 years on both counts of pandering to run consecutively and 5 years on the battery charge to run concurrent.

Steven Carter convicted of aggravated kidnapping/aggravated rape, sentenced

Steven D. Carter was convicted of aggravated kidnapping and aggravated rape on July 31, 2014. He was sentenced to life imprisonment on both counts to run consecutively. Steven Carter abducted a 7 year old girl on June 5th, 2013 and forced her to perform sexual acts in his car. The child had been playing by the pool within her apartment complex when Carter kidnapped her and threw her in his car. An hour later he left the child on West William David Parkway in Metairie. At trial, prosecutors introduced evidence of video surveillance showing Carter kidnapping the child. Carter pled not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity, alleging he was under the influence of crack cocaine and pain medication and did not remember the events. However, the jury found him guilty on both counts.