Brothers Plead Guilty To Federal Murder Charges

ANTOINE BROOKS, age 23, DON BROOKS, a/k/a “Crip,” age 21, both of New Orleans, Louisiana, pled guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk to violations of the Federal Gun Control Act, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Allen Polite, Jr.

ANTOINE BROOKS pled guilty to using a firearm to murder Tamira Johnson on September 23, 2011.  DON BROOKS pled guilty to using a firearm to murder Tamira Johnson on September 23, 2011; Harry Howard on January 1, 2012; and Lamont Phillips on January 4, 2012.  Pursuant to their 11(c)(1)(C) plea agreements with the government, which the Court may accept or reject, ANTOINE BROOKS will be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 25 years and DON BROOKS will be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 20 years for each murder, to be served consecutively, for a total of 60 years imprisonment.

According to court documents, the defendants admitted that on September 23, 2011, they were driving in New Orleans looking for Roosevelt Rumbley, a rival drug dealer with whom they had an ongoing drug feud, in order to kill him.  As ANTOINE and DON BROOKS approached Rumbley, ANTOINE BROOKS reached out of the car window holding a .40 caliber handgun and began shooting.  Rumbley shot in the hand (and survived), but Tamira Johnson, who was coincidentally walking on the street near Rumbley, was also shot and died.

DON BROOKS admitted that on January 1, 2012, he murdered Harry Howard during the course of a drug transaction.   DON BROOKS further admitted that on January 7, 2012, he attempted to kill an individual who was seen talking with the police about the Howard murder.

DON BROOKS also admitted that on January 4, 2012, he murdered Lamont Phillips in front of his residence in New Orleans during the course of a drug transaction.  According to a cooperating witness who was with Phillips just before the murder, Phillips engaged in a cellphone conversation with an individual he/she knew as “Crip” discussing making a drug deal.  After the cell phone conversation, Phillips retrieved the drugs “Crip” requested from his house.  Phillips then left to conduct the deal with “Crip.”  The witness then heard numerous gunshots, looked out the window, and saw Phillips lying in street.  According to the responding NOPD officers and other cooperating individuals, Phillips made a dying declaration that “Crip did me” just before expiring. 

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the New Orleans Police Department.  The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Sean Toomey.

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