COLUMBUS – For nearly eight years, they have terrified neighborhoods in Columbus with violence, threats and drug-dealing, but now 19 members of a local gang are facing a federal indictment on racketeering charges that could send them all to Death Row.
The indictment, returned on Sept. 27, claims that the Trevitt and Atcheson Crips-affiliated gang known as “T&A” engaged in a racketeering conspiracy that was responsible for five murders as well as multiple attempted murders and other violent and drug-trafficking crimes, such as distributing cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, oxycodone and marijuana, U.S Attorney Jeff Sessions and U.S. Attorney Benjamin Glassman announced during Sessions’ trip to Columbus Tuesday.
All but four of the accused gang members are in custody and authorities are still looking for Eric “Lil Go,” “Little E” Henderson, Jr., 19, Michael “Bang” Henderson, 20, Deswan ”Dezzy” Robinson, 25, and Thomas “Bhomo” Seals, 24, Glassman said.
The gang, which included smaller groups such as the “Atcheson Crip Gangsters,” “Kwamie Gang,” “Catch a Body” and “Toe Tag, derived its name from Trevitt and Atcheson streets in the King-Lincoln District where most of its members lived.
Beginning in June 2010, the gang controlled a territory bounded by Mt. Vernon Avenue to the south, Leonard Avenue to the north, Taylor Avenue to the east and St. Clair Avenue to the west through intimidation, fear and violence, the indictment alleges. Gang members were expected to retaliate with acts of violence when their members and associates were disrespected, threatened, intimidated or subjected to acts of violence.
Also named in the indictment
Dominique “Doggy” Bryant, 26
Charles Carson, 23
Jonathan “Jesus” Dantzler, 26
Terrell “T Body” Hansard, 21
Andrew “Drip” Harris, 30
Eric “Easy” Henderson, Sr., 39
Steve “Big Go,” “Tana” Henderson, Jr., 25
Brandon “Gunner” Martin, 26
Lee Devine “Capone” McCrae, 22
Shawn “Mook” Nelms, 25
Terrance “Tee” Pyfrom, 21
Donovan “Don Don” Reed, 26
Derrick “Fresh” Thornton, 29
Marcus Walton “Wax” Ox, 35
Michael “Sossa” Watson, 25
T&A identifies with the national Crip gang, adopting the traditional colors, symbols, culture and codes, as well local Blood gangs, enemies of the Crips, the indictment said. Members marked the gang’s territory with graffiti and themselves with common tattoos.
The members also produced songs to boast of the gang’s existence, communicate their violent methods and threaten non-members and rival gang members, posting the songs on various social networking sites, Glassman said.
Eight members are charged with taking part in five murders:
July 1, 2012 – in the area of 431 Ellison Street, Dantzler and Nelms shot and killed Franky Tention
March 15, 2013 – Martin, Nelms and Robinson shot and murdered William Moore, a rival gang member
Dec. 23, 2015 – Michael Henderson and Watson shot and killed Marvin Ector on E. 5th Ave.
Jan. 24, 2015 – Carson shot and murdered Quincy Story
March 4, 2016 – Hansard involved in the murder of Deaonte Fisher
The indictment lists at least 26 separate incidents from June 2010 until March 2017 when gang members attempted to murder more individuals by shooting at them. The defendants also threatened or intimidated witnesses, using violence or the threat of violence to deter them from providing information to law enforcement.