Three Sentenced for Violent Shooting in Aid of Racketeering

 FORT WAYNE – United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty sentenced three individuals,  members of  “2500,” a Fort Wayne street gang who engaged in drug and firearms trafficking with “Grit Gang,” a street gang based in Bloomington, Indiana, for committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tina L. Nommay.  

William D. Beamon, aka “Lil’ Will,” 28, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced to a total of 360 months (30 years) in prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release.

Kyombe D. Bolden, “aka Pudge,” 30, of Bloomington, Indiana, was sentenced to a total of 324 months (27 years) in prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release.

Ronnie D. Burrus, “aka Ronnie Robinson, Ronnie Burris and Yung Ron,” 28, of Fort Wayne and Bloomington, Indiana, was sentenced to a total of 360 months (30 years) in prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release.

In 2020, all three of these defendants entered pleas of guilty to two counts of attempted assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering; one count of assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering; and three counts of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.  A fourth defendant, Demetri D. Beachem, has also pled guilty and is currently scheduled for sentencing on November 12, 2021. 

“We will use all the tools we have as federal prosecutors to hold those involved in criminal activity accountable for their actions, including racketeering statutes.  Our goal, along with our federal, state and local partners, is to protect our communities from violent activity perpetuated by groups of individuals, especially those involved in closely associated street gangs or other criminal organizations. We wish to thank our law enforcement partners for their investigative efforts to bring to justice those individuals involved in criminal acts of violence in our community,” said Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.  

“This case was the first use of the federal racketeering statutes against street gangs in the Fort Wayne area and it will not be the last. Today’s sentences should send a strong message that criminal organizations such as the one the defendants were members of will not be tolerated in our communities, and the FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue our efforts to remove those who participate in this violent activity from our streets,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan.

According to documents in this case, gang members of 2500 and Grit Gang were engaged in drug and firearms trafficking and were responsible for violent criminal gang activity.  On October 4, 2014, the defendants received an insulting social media video from rival gang members, and they reacted by hunting down these rival gang members, locating them at a residence at the intersection of Caroline and Suttenfield Streets in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  Upon seeing the rivals exit the house, the defendants began shooting, striking the house and a neighboring house with gunfire.  These individuals fired approximately 50 shots, exposing people in both houses to significant danger.  One victim suffered only a minor wound, but the dangerous actions of the defendants risked the lives of many innocent bystanders and children in both houses. 

This multi-agency investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Gang Task Force in Fort Wayne, which includes the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Allen County Police Department, the Fort Wayne Police Department, and the Indiana State Police. Also assisting with this investigation were the Bloomington Police Department, the Indiana State Police Laboratory Division, and the Fort Wayne Police Department’s Detective Bureau and Gang and Violent Crimes Unit. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony W. Geller and Stacey R. Speith.