Youngstown Resident Sentenced for Role in More Than 40 Robberies

Isiah Taylor, III, 44, of Youngstown, Ohio, was sentenced to more than 17 years in prison for his roles in more than 40 robberies in Ohio and Pennsylvania between 2001 and 2009, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

“This defendant had a long run spreading mayhem throughout our region, but he was finally brought to justice,” Dettelbach said. “This sentence ensures that the defendant will have plenty of time to reflect on his actions.”

Taylor was convicted on four counts of Hobbs Act conspiracy and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime following a jury trial before U.S. District Judge James Gwin.

Gwin also ordered Taylor to pay $40,135 in restitution.

Taylor conducted detailed surveillance of businesses and locations to be robbed. He then recruited co-conspirators and provided them tools for the robbery, including ski masks, two-way radios, and firearms, among other items. He also monitored police scanners during the robberies, according to court documents and trial testimony.

Taylor also facilitated the robberies by stealing cars to be used in the crime or setting up traffic cones to divert traffic and instructed co-conspirators on how to use chemical spray to subdue victims, according to court documents and trial testimony.

Among the some of the robberies:

■September 24, 2007: $600 from Linens and Things, 385 Howe Avenue, Akron, Ohio.

■October 20, 2007: $2,119 from Sbarro Pizza, 7401 Market Street, Boardman, Ohio.

■November 10, 2007: attempted to take money from Tractor Supply Company, 3800 Elm Road NE, Warren, Ohio.

■November 10, 2007: $5,500 from Wing House at 1300 East Tallmadge Avenue, Akron, Ohio.

■November 10, 2007: attempted to take money from Berean Christian Store, 1100 30th Street NW, Canton, Ohio.

■November 12, 2007: $2,325 from Dollar Tree, 1950 East State Street, Hermitage, Pennsylvania.

■November 23, 2007: $11,000 from Tractor Supply Company, Hermitage, Pennsylvania.

■November 29, 2007: attempted to take money from Tractor Supply Company in Alliance, Ohio.

■November 29, 2007: $304 from Goodyear Auto Center, 1800 Buchholzer Blvd., Akron, Ohio.

■January 11, 2008: $60 from Tropic Glow Tanning, 1598 Massillon Road, Akron, Ohio.

■January 14, 2008: $508 from the Dollar Tree, 1150 Doral Drive, Boardman, Ohio.

■January 18, 2008: $849 from Famous Hair, 1698 S. Raccoon Road, Youngstown, Ohio.

■January 23, 2008: $417 from Petland, 7338 Market Street, Boardman, Ohio.

■March 1, 2008: $979, Mama Rosa’s Pizza, 1730 Goodyear Boulevard, Akron, Ohio.

■March 18, 2008: $52, Puzzle Mania, 5555 Youngstown Warren Road, Niles, Ohio.

■March 31, 2008: $334, Goodwill, 460 Youngstown Poland Road, Struthers, Ohio.

■April 12, 2008: $340, Outreach Thrift Center, 3317 Mahoning Avenue, Youngstown, Ohio.

■April 22, 2008: $6,300, Midas Muffler, 2800 Belmont, Liberty, Ohio.

■April 24, 2008: $154, Catherine’s, 1260 Boardman Poland Road, Boardman, Ohio.

■May 10, 2008: took money from Pizza Hut, 8535 South Avenue, Poland, Ohio, while using a firearm.

■May 13, 2008: $1,809, Dollar Stuff, 2467 East State Street, Hermitage, Pennsylvania.

■October 18, 2008: $632, Vitamin World, 5555 Youngstown Warren Road, Niles, Ohio.

■December 26, 2008: $3,255, Bellerina Pizza, 1010 Youngstown Poland Road, Struthers, Ohio.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Daniel J. Riedl and Christos N. Georgalis following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boardman Police Department, and Youngstown Police Department.

Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Leaders Announce Kickoff of 2011 V-GRIP Effort in the Mahoning Valley

Seven people were arrested and an assault rifle was seized during the first weekend of this year’s V-GRIP program, federal, state and local law enforcement officials announced today.

“This program is the cornerstone of my office’s efforts to make the Mahoning Valley safer,” said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. “V-GRIP is a prime example of what happens when agencies and departments combine their resources and work together. We will build off the success we had last summer and work to take illegal firearms off the streets.”

The program began this past weekend with seven new arrests, an additional 18 people arrested on outstanding warrants and the seizure of an assault rifle. Charges are pending in those cases.

“The V-GRIP initiative shares the goals of the Ohio Attorney General’s office to protect Ohio families from violent crime and make encounters safer for law enforcement officers, said Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine. “I commend and encourage the participation of of Ohio law enforcement in V-GRIP.”

“The days are heating up for criminals in the Mahoning Valley this summer, but soon they will feel the cold steel bars of justice. ATF is joining forces with Valley law enforcement in the V-GRIP initiative to take back the neighborhoods and stop gun violence,” said Robert J. Browning, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Columbus Field Division.

“The FBI and its partners are committed to combating gang and violent activity in the Mahoning Valley,” said Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge, Cleveland Office. “This multi-agency initiative will help take dangerous offenders off our streets with the goal of making our neighborhoods safer.”

V-GRIP stands for Violence Gun Reduction and Interdiction Program. It includes participation from: the U.S. Attorney’s Office; the U.S. Marshal Service; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Federal Probation Service; the Ohio Adult Parole Authority; the Ohio State Highway Patrol; the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation; the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office; the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office; the Youngstown City Prosecutor; the Youngstown Police Department; the Warren Police Department; the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force and the Trumbull County Probation Department, among others.

These agencies are working together to put additional officers on the streets of Youngstown, Warren and surrounding communities to supplement regular patrols. They share intelligence and use crime mapping software and other technology to target specific neighborhood crime hot spots.

The goal is to identify repeat violent offenders, with an emphasis on reducing gun violence. Those arrested and found to be in possession of illegal firearms, drugs or other contraband could then be prosecuted in either federal or state court.

The officers and agents participating have undergone extensive training in the past month about safeguarding suspects’ rights while searching for guns and other contraband.

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.