BN- A convicted racketeer who authorities say led a violent motorcycle gang was sentenced Tuesday to 35 years in prison. Antonio Johnson,...
Antonio Johnson, 39, of Detroit, was accused of being"national president" of the Phantom Outlaw Motorcycle Club, and at the same time a "three-star general" of the Vice Lords street gang.
(Related: Indictment of 7 alleged Vice Lords members details gang's rituals and rivalries)
A jury in March found Johnson and five other members of the motorcycle club guilty of racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering and other related assault and firearms charges.
Two more were convicted of involvement in May
Five others pleaded guilty in 2014.
And one man charged in the case, Charles Davis, was acquitted of all charges, according to court records.
The case against the group stemmed from an alleged murder plot hatched in September 2013, involving retaliation against the Hell Lovers Motorcycle Club, which Phantom members believed was responsible for the killing one of their own, Stephen Caldwell, according to court documents.
One man suffered nonfatal gunshot wounds to the face and arm during the Phantoms' attempts at revenge, according to court records.
In another violent incident during the same month, according to prosecutors, Johnson ordered members of the club to the motorcycle vests from the rival Satan Sidekick Motorcycle Club.
During that attempt, according to investigators, a Satan Sidekick member was shot in the face and a Phantom Outlaw member was stabbed.
The six men convicted in March asked the U.S. District Judge Paul Borman to throw out their guilty verdicts, challenging a jury pool that "underrepresented African-Americans."
All but one of the defendants was black, and only one African American was seated as a juror in the trial, but Borman dismissed the challenge last month because it wasn't filed on time.
A day later, he sentenced another leader of the club, Marvin Nicholson, 46, of Detroit, called the group's "national enforcer," to 40 years in prison.
"Through his leadership positions in two gangs, Johnson spread violence in
Detroit and beyond," said Assistant U.S. Attorney General Caldwell in a statement.
He said a partnership of federal and local law enforcement agencies known as Detroit One helped thwart a murder plot in the case.
"Gang wars fuel violence in our community, and the resulting drive-by shootings
create unacceptable risk to innocent lives," said U.S. Attorney McQuade.
McQuade's office listed the following convictions and sentencings resulting from the Phantom Outlaw case:
• Brian Sorrell, 28, of Detroit, was convicted of racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to
commit murder in aid of racketeering, assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of
racketeering, conspiracy to assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, and
use and carry of firearms during and in relation to a crime of violence.
He was sentenced to 21 years in prison.
• Matthew Schamante, 33, of Waterford, was convicted of racketeering conspiracy.
He was sentenced to 102 months in prison.
• Brian Jackson, 48, of Detroit, was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in
aid of racketeering.
He was sentenced to 96 months in prison.
• Sherman Brown, 44, of Detroit, was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in
aid of racketeering.
He was sentenced to 100 months in prison.
• Brandon Paige, 21, of Detroit, was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in
aid of racketeering.
He was sentenced to 90 months in prison.
• Roger Valdes, 30, of Pontiac, Michigan, was convicted of assault with a
dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering and use and carry of firearms during and in
relation to a crime of violence.
He was sentenced to 49 months in prison.
• Raynard Brown, 39, of Detroit, was convicted of racketeering conspiracy.
He is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 25.
• Vicente Phillips, 51, of Pontiac, was convicted of racketeering conspiracy.
He is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 15.
• Maurice Williams, 34, of Detroit, was convicted of racketeering conspiracy.
He is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 8.
• Christopher Odum, 30, of Detroit, was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder
in aid of racketeering.
He is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 21.
• William Frazier, 37, of Auburn Hills, Michigan, was convicted of assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering and use and carry of firearms during and in relation to a crime of violence.
He is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 22.
More: http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2015/09/leader_of_phantom_outlaw_motor.html
