Racketeering Indictment Filed in Federal Court Against Members and Associates of Youngstown Street Gang LSP

A 42-count federal indictment was filed charging 23 people with conspiracy to commit racketeering (RICO) and other crimes for their roles as members or affiliates of the Youngstown street gang LSP, which used violence, including attempted murder, to control territory and sell heroin, cocaine and other drugs, Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, and Robert Browning, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, announced today.

The charges detail a conspiracy that lasted at least 8 years and involved crimes including attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, felonious assault, carjacking, robbery, witness tampering, retaliation, firearms trafficking and drug trafficking.

“This indictment sets forth an appalling conspiracy in which a group of people used violence to intimidate an entire neighborhood,” Dettelbach said. “Today’s charges represent message from the community that they will not take it anymore.”

“This gang’s reign of terror has met its end,” Browning said. “ATF and Youngstown Police are getting violent criminals off the street and behind bars, where they belong.” The name LSP is an acronym that represents Laclede, Sherwood, Parkview and/or Princeton avenues, streets at the heart of the gang’s territory in the Idora neighborhood of Youngstown’s south side. The group existed to enrich its leaders, members and associates through the sale and distribution of heroin, cocaine and marijuana, according to the indictment.

LSP used violence to guard its drug distribution territory, intimidate rival gangs and others, retaliate against those who cooperated with law enforcement and expand its power and reputation, according to the indictment.

The indictment identifies Daquann Hackett and Derrick Johnson, Jr., both of Youngstown, as leaders of LSP.

Hackett, 21, was indicted on 19 counts, including RICO conspiracy, violent crimes in aid of racketeering, use of a firearm in a crime of violence, distribution of narcotics, conspiracy to distribute narcotics and retaliation (attempted murder).

Johnson, 21, was indicted on 8 counts, including RICO conspiracy, violent crimes in aid of racketeering, use of a firearm in a crime of violence, theft of government funds, conspiracy to distribute cocaine base (crack) and retaliation.

Also charged in the indictment are: Aldric Jones, 20; Dominique Callier, 19; Richard Ivy, 26; Andre Ballinger II, 21; Van Lighting, 21; Terrance Machen, Jr., 29; Tyrell Oliver, 32; Nalemn Hasley, 31; James Neail, 27; Marques Duvall, 23; Melvin Johnson III, 19; Corey Council, 22; Carlton Council, Jr., 28; Braylyn Williams, 20, of Boardman, Ohio; Michael Jones, 26; Wayne Kerns, 21, of Campbell, Ohio; Maurise Kerns, 21; Edward Campbell III, 20; Ryan Davis, 21; Shawn Jones, 21, and Tre’Von Mason, 18

All live in Youngstown unless otherwise noted.

Also as a result of the investigation, two additional separate drug-and firearms-related federal indictments were issued against Rayshawn Bell, age 35, and Paul Henderson, age 28, both of Youngstown.

Bell was charged with the distribution of cocaine base (crack) in the city of Youngstown on multiple occasions and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Henderson was also charged with the distribution of cocaine base (crack).

Additionally, seven people were indicted on related charges in state court by the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office. Those charges include felonious assault, drug trafficking and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, among others.

According to the federal racketeering indictment, Hackett purchased cocaine, which he then “cooked” into crack cocaine and distributed it to member and associates of LSP for further resale. Gang members described themselves as a family and fought and shot others on behalf of other members of LSP, according to the indictment.

They also routinely sold illegal firearms as a way to make money. Gang members also regularly wore ballistic or “bulletproof” vests to protect themselves during shootings, according to the indictment.

The gang painted graffiti “tags” to mark their territory. LSP leaders and members obtained tattoos reading “LSP” to indicate lifetime affiliation with the gang. They also used MySpace.com to glorify LSP by posting gang-related photos and writings, according to the indictment. The indictment identified scores of criminal acts dating back to 2003 that were part of the LSP criminal conspiracy. Among them:

On Feb. 3, 2008, Shawn Jones, in the presence of Johnson and Aldric Jones, shot a person in the chest at the Ohio Gas Mart in Youngstown, according to the indictment. On Nov. 1, 2008, Hackett attempted to murder Sherman Perkins by shooting him on

Sherwood Avenue

, according to the indictment.

On March 14, 2009, Callier, Johnson and Wayne Kerns conspired to murder when they shot two people from a vehicle on

East Judson Avenue

, according to the indictment. On April 13, 2010, Hackett, Johnson and another person, not identified herein, found a recording device on a confidential informant during a drug transaction. They dragged the informant down the stairs, where they hit, kicked and used a firearm to strike the informant in an effort to kill him, according to the indictment.

On Dec. 4, 2010, Callier placed a threatening phone call to an individual demanding to know who would be testifying against him, Johnson and Wayne Kerns.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Daniel Riedl and Robert Corts, following an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Youngtown Police Department and the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office.

An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.