Marquise J. Wilkins, age 24, of Youngstown, Ohio, was sentenced to three years in prison after giving inconsistent testimony during a trial of the LSP street gang, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

“When someone comes into court and lies, it risks undermining the justice system itself,” Dettelbach said. “This sentence sends a simple message – lie and you go to prison.”

Wilkins pleaded guilty earlier this year to three counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice after he gave sworn testimony in the LSP trial that was inconsistent with previous sworn statements he had made before the Grand Jury.             

Specifically, Wilkins testified on June 15, 2012 that he did not have a conversation with Daquann Hackett regarding who lead the LSP street gang. On Nov. 22, 2011, Wilkins testified before the grand jury that Hackett that he was in charge of LSP, according to the indictment.

Wilkins also made contradictory statements about which gangs LSP feuding with and other relevant facts, according to court documents.

Hackett and other members of the gang were still convicted following a jury trial and given lengthy prison sentences.

The case was presented to the grand jury by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel J. Riedl following an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

 

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