Members Of Howard Boys Gang Convicted Of Rico Conspiracy

Five Flint men were convicted of RICO conspiracy yesterday afternoon in the United States District Court in Flint, Michigan, United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced.  The convictions followed a seven week trial in front of the U.S. District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. 

McQuade was joined in the announcement by Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton and Paul M. Abbate, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office.

The five men were convicted of participating in the Howard Boys criminal enterprise which operated from 2002 to 2012.  The Howard Boys enterprise was described during the trial as a street gang whose activities included murders, attempted murders and drug dealing on the south side of Flint. 

“These convictions – both state and federal - should send an important message to this community that violence will not be tolerated. It will not be tolerated by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Genesee County Prosecutor’s Office and it will not be tolerated by the people of Flint.  Despite immense pressure not to testify, many from this community assisted these cases by providing information and testifying.  The jury’s verdict shows that their voices were heard,” McQuade said.

“For years, the violence committed by the defendants in this case was perpetrated on the city of Flint and surrounding areas in epidemic proportions,” said Paul M. Abbate, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “Ultimately, the arrest, conviction and punishment of these individuals were due, in large degree, to the assistance provided by members of the community, demonstrating that it takes a collective effort—between federal, state and local law enforcement, along with a concerned citizenry—to take back our communities from violent offenders, one neighborhood at a time. The FBI will continue to work with its law enforcement partners and the community as a whole to aggressively combat violent crime.”

These convictions follow convictions which were obtained by the Genesee County Prosecutor’s Office in state court for additional members and associates of the Howard Boys. 

“For the better part of a decade, the members of this gang reigned terror on the streets of Flint with their criminal enterprise," said Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton.  "But justice has prevailed and these defendants will now pay their debt to society behind closed walls, steel bars, and barbed wire fences," he said.

“We will continue to work together to punish those who have committed these crimes.  Ultimately, however, we will not be successful unless we can prevent these crimes from happening in the first place,” McQuade added.

The case included crimes and investigations from as early as 2002.  The federal case was investigated by the Genesee County Safe Streets Task Force, which is comprised of agents from the FBI and officers from the Flint Police Department and the Michigan State Police.  Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as well as officers from the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department participated in the investigation and trial as well.

In addition to the convictions for RICO conspiracy, the jury convicted the five defendants of the following crimes:

     Alexandra Norwood

• Murder in aid of racketeering

     Jatimothy Walker

• Murder in aid of racketeering

     Jonathan Walker

• Murder in aid of racketeering
• Attempted murder in aid of racketeering
• Use and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence

     Johnathan Oldham

• Murder in aid of racketeering
• Attempted murder in aid of racketeering – two counts
• Use and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence – three counts
• Distribution of cocaine base – six counts
• Possession of a short barreled firearm
• Possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number
• Dealing in firearms without a license

      Leon Gills

• Attempted murder in aid of racketeering – two counts
• Use and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence

The five men are facing up to life in prison for their convictions on the RICO conspiracy charge.  Norwood, Oldham, and Jatimothy and Jonathan Walker face mandatory life in prison for their respective murder in aid of racketeering convictions. 

In addition to those convicted at trial six men had previously pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy in federal court.  Those six were:

    Declyde Brewton
    Willie Chambers
     Sean Cunningham
     Markus Evans
     Malcom Evans
     Carvell Gordon

Among those convicted in the Genesee County Circuit Court were:

      Paki Bonner

• Felonious assault
• Felony firearm

      Taron Brown

• Possession of a short barreled rifle
• Carrying a concealed weapon
• Possession of cocaine

      Jamel Cheeks

• Second degree murder
• Felony firearm

     Roderick Dudley

• Manslaughter
• Felon in possession of a firearm

      James Elbert

• Delivery of cocaine
• Carrying a concealed weapon

      Carvell Gordon

• Second degree murder
• Felony firearm

      Shawn Gardner

• Second degree murder

      Ricco Holmes

• Second degree murder – two counts
• Felony firearm – two counts

      Rodrick Jackson

• Assault with intent to do great bodily harm
• Felony firearm

      Charles Orr

• Delivery of marijuana

      Terrell Roche

• First degree murder
• Felony firearm
• Second degree arson

      Darryl Scott

• Second degree murder

      Eddie Williams

• Manslaughter

The federal case was prosecuted by the Flint Branch of the United States Attorney’s Office.