Also Convicted of Federal Drug Distribution and Gun Charges
A federal jury today convicted eight Baltimore, Maryland men
for conspiring to participate in a violent racketeering enterprise known as
Trained To Go (TTG), a subset of the Black Guerrilla Family (BGF) gang,
including nine murders, drug trafficking, and witness intimidation, as well as
on conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin,
marijuana, and cocaine. Several of the
defendants were also convicted of related drug and firearms charges.
The defendants convicted today are: Montana Barronette, aka
“Tana,” and “Tanner,” 23; Terrell Sivells, aka “Rell,” 27; John Harrison, aka
“Binkie,” 28; Taurus Tillman, aka “Tash,” 29; Linton Broughton, aka “Marty,”
25; Dennis Pulley, aka “Denmo,” 31; Brandon Wilson, aka “Ali,” 24; and Timothy
Floyd, aka “Tim Rod,” 28.
The convictions were announced by Assistant Attorney General
Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S.
Attorney Robert K. Hur for the District of Maryland; Special Agent in Charge
Gordon B. Johnson of the FBI Baltimore Field Office; Interim Commissioner Gary
Tuggle of the Baltimore Police Department; Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada
of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore
Field Division; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don A. Hibbert of the Drug
Enforcement Administration (DEA), Baltimore District Office and Anne Arundel
County Police Chief Tim Altomare.
“For six years, Trained To Go terrorized the Sandtown
neighborhood, committing murders, robberies, and other violence as they sold
their poison on the streets of Baltimore,” said Assistant Attorney General
Benczkowski. “Today’s convictions ensure
that Montana Barronette and the other seven defendants in this vicious gang now
will be held accountable for their horrible crimes.”
“Federal, state and
local law enforcement joined together to target the leaders and key members of
one of the most violent gangs operating in Baltimore City,” said U.S. Attorney
Hur. “Today’s convictions prove our continuing commitment to removing armed,
violent criminals from our neighborhoods and bringing them to justice in the
federal system, which has no parole—ever.”
“This investigation represents the epitome of law
enforcement agencies working together to target and dismantle violent street
gangs that threaten the safety and stability of our neighborhoods,” said FBI
Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Johnson.
“The citizens of Baltimore City and Maryland have the FBI’s commitment
that we will work with our local, state and federal partners to attack these
dealers and remove violent criminals from their neighborhoods.”
According to the evidence presented at their 24-day trial,
the defendants are all members of TTG, a criminal organization and subset of
the Black Guerrilla Family (BGF) gang that operated in the Sandtown
neighborhood of West Baltimore, whose members engaged in drug distribution and
acts of violence including murder, armed robbery, and witness intimidation.
Members and associates of TTG sold heroin, cocaine, and marijuana, and worked
to defend their exclusive right to control who sold narcotics in TTG territory.
As part of the conspiracy, each defendant agreed that a conspirator would
commit at least two acts of racketeering activity for TTG.
Specifically, the evidence proved that between May 20, 2010
and May 25, 2016, the defendants and other members of TTG committed acts of
violence, including nine murders, shootings, armed robbery, and witness
intimidation. The violent acts were intended to further the gang’s activities,
protect the gang’s drug territory, and maintain and increase a member’s
position within the organization.
Murders were committed in retaliation for individuals robbing TTG
members of drugs and drug proceeds, or while TTG members robbed others of their
drugs and drug proceeds, as well as in murder-for-hire schemes. Further, the defendants engaged in witness
intimidation through violence or threats of violence, to prevent individuals
from cooperating with law enforcement.
The defendants all face a maximum sentence of life in prison
on the racketeering and drug conspiracies.
Pulley and Wilson each also face a maximum sentence of 10 years in
prison for being felons in possession of a firearm; and a mandatory minimum of
five years, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, and up to life in prison
for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Tillman and Sivells also face up to 20 years
in prison for distribution and possession with intent to distribute
heroin. U.S. District Judge Catherine C.
Blake has scheduled sentencing. The
defendants remain detained.
Three other TTG members, all of Baltimore, previously
pleaded guilty. Brandon Bazemore, aka
Man Man, 25, pleaded guilty to the racketeering conspiracy, including three
murders and an attempted murder, as well as to the drug conspiracy. Bazemore and the government have agreed that
if the Court accepts the plea, Bazemore will be sentenced to 25 years in federal
prison at his sentencing on Nov. 13.
Co-defendants Hisaun Chatman, 31, and James Woodfolk, 20, pleaded guilty
to the drug conspiracy and were each sentenced to five years in prison, to be
served concurrent to the state sentence each is currently serving.
Co-defendant Roger Taylor, of Baltimore, is still a
fugitive, and the charges against him are pending. Anyone who may have information on the
whereabouts of Roger Taylor is asked to contact the FBI Baltimore Field office
at (410) 265-8080.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, the Baltimore
Police Department, the ATF, the DEA and the Anne Arundel County Police
Department, including the FBI Baltimore Safe Streets Violent Gang Task Force,
which includes FBI special agents and task force officers from the Baltimore,
Baltimore County and Anne Arundel County Police Departments. FBI Baltimore Safe Streets Violent Gang Task
Force is responsible for identifying and targeting the most violent gangs in
the Baltimore metropolitan area, to address gang violence and the associated
homicides in Baltimore. The vision of
the program is to use federal racketeering statutes to disrupt and dismantle
significant violent criminal threats and criminal enterprises affecting the
safety and well-being of our citizens and our communities.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. Hanley of the
Justice Department’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S.
Attorneys Christopher J. Romano and Daniel Gardner of the District of Maryland
prosecuting the case.