BN- A prominent gang leader was sentenced to 35 years behind bars for his ties to a racketeering and mass murder plot, while 12 other acc...
BN- A prominent gang leader was sentenced to 35 years behind bars for his ties to a racketeering and mass murder plot, while 12 other accomplices — some from Waterford, Auburn Hills and Pontiac — also have been convicted as a result of the years-long investigation.
Antonio Johnson, 39, of Detroit was sentenced by U.S. Eastern District Judge Paul D. Borman after a multi-week trial involving charges that Johnson was involved in a grouping of conspiracy, dangerous firearms and racketeering offenses.
Johnson, also known as “Mister Tony,” “MT” or “Big Bro,” was the national president of the Phantom Outlaw Motorcycle Club, and a “three-star general” of the Vice Lords street gang in Michigan, federal prosecutors said.
Johnson was sentenced for official federal charges that included 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; use and carry of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and being a felon in possession of firearms.
Among Johnson’s accomplices were Matthew Schamante, 33, of Waterford, who was sentenced to serve 102 months in prison tied to a RICO conspiracy conviction; Roger Valdes, 30, of Pontiac, who 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 and many others. Valdes was sentenced to serve 49 months in prison.
Auburn Hills man William Frazier, 37, was convicted of assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering and use and carry of firearms during and in relation to a violent crime, but has not yet been sentenced. Vicente Phillips, 51, of Pontiac was also convicted of RICO conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing.
During the trial, prosecutors said the Detroit-based Phantom Outlaw Motorcycle Club, and its members were involved in a range of criminal activity including conspiracy to commit murder, shootings, robbery, extortion and the possession and sale of stolen vehicles and motorcycles.
Evidence introduced also demonstrated that leaders of the Phantoms were heavily involved in the Vice Lords, a well-known street gang originating from Chicago.
The evidence showed that Johnson used the Vice Lords to assist the Phantoms in various criminal endeavors, including to search for and violently attack rivals of the Phantoms, according to U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade.
Prosecutors added that Johnson, the leader of the motorcycle gang and the Michigan arm of the Vice Lords, ordered numerous members to forcibly steal the “rags,” or motorcycle vests, of members of the rival Satan Sidekick Motorcycle Club.
During Phantoms’ attempt to do so, a Satan Sidekick member was shot in the face and a Phantom member was stabbed, according to evidence brought up at trial.
U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade said gang wars fueled unnecessary violence in communities, “and the resulting drive-by shootings create unacceptable risk to innocent lives.
“The Detroit One partners are systematically dismantling violent street and motorcycle gangs that are destroying the peace in our neighborhoods.”
The arrests and convictions in this case stemmed from the Detroit One Initiative, a collaborative effort between law enforcement and the community to reduce homicide and other violent crime in Detroit.
Through an extensive investigation, a group called the Comprehensive Violence Reduction Partnership Task Force — which consists of representatives of the ATF, Detroit Police Department, Michigan State Police, Michigan Department of Corrections and the FBI — linked various acts of violence in Detroit to the Phantom Outlaw Motorcycle Club and the Vice Lords street gang, and identified the leaders and key members of these gangs, who now have been held accountable.
According to federal prosecutors, Johnson and his fellow Phantoms also plotted to kill three members of the rival Hell Lovers Motorcycle Club, whom the Phantoms believed were responsible for a shooting death of a member of their club.
According to the evidence presented at trial, the plot involved killing the three men and then, during the anticipated subsequent wake at the Hell Lovers’ clubhouse, shooting all Hell Lovers in attendance. ATF and FBI agents intervened before the Phantoms carried out the killings, prosecutors said in a statement.
Other members involved in the conspiracy and named by the U.S. Attorney’s Office include:
• Marvin Nicholson, 46, of Detroit: Convicted of RICO 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, use and carry of firearms during and in relation to a crime of violence, assault of federal officers and felon in possession of firearms. He was sentenced to serve 40 years in prison.
• Brian Sorrell, 28, of Detroit: Convicted of RICO 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 serve 21 years in prison.
• Brian Jackson, 48, of Detroit: Convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, and was sentenced to serve 96 months in prison.
• Sherman Brown, 44, of Detroit: Convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, and was sentenced to serve 100 months in prison.
• Brandon Paige, 21, of Detroit: Convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, and was sentenced to serve 90 months in prison.
• Raynard Brown, 39, of Detroit: Convicted of RICO conspiracy, awaiting sentencing.
• Maurice Williams, 34, of Detroit: Convicted of RICO conspiracy, awaiting sentencing.
• Christopher Odum, 30, of Detroit: Convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, has not been sentenced.
Through the Detroit One initiative, local, state, and federal law enforcement authorities since 2013 have achieved significant indictments, convictions, and sentences against a number of street gang members responsible for much of the violent crime in Detroit. The collaboration also has contributed to a decrease in the homicide rate from 386 in 2012 to 300 in 2014, and in the overall violent crime rate.
More: http://www.theoaklandpress.com/general-news/20150908/motorcycle-gang-members-convicted-sentenced-tied-to-racketeering-mass-murder-plots
