Columbus Gang Members Plead Guilty to Murder, Rico Charges

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Three Columbus men pleaded guilty in connection to a racketeering case involving the organized criminal enterprise known as the Short North Posse.

Allen L. Wright, 30, pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy and two counts of murder in aid of racketeering.

Tysin L. Gordon, 30, and Freddie K. Johnson, 29, each pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy.

Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Joseph P. Reagan, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Michael Boxler, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien, and Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs, announced the pleas entered into yesterday before U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley.

The three were charged by a superseding indictment in October 2014. A total of 20 individuals were indicted in the racketeering case with charges that included murders, attempted murders, drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, extortion and robbery.

Racketeering conspiracy is a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Murder in aid of racketeering carries a potential maximum sentence of life in prison or the death penalty.

U.S. Attorney Stewart commended the two-year long investigation by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, DEA, ATF, Columbus Police, Franklin County Sheriff Zach Scott’s Office, Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien’s Office, Fairfield County Prosecutor Gregg Marx, Licking County Prosecutor Kenneth Oswalt, Muskingum County Prosecutor D. Michael Haddox, Ross County Prosecutor Matthew S. Schmidt, law enforcement leaders from those counties, and officials of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorneys David DeVillers, Kevin Kelley and Brian Martinez and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jimmy Lowe with Franklin County Prosecutor O’Brien’s Office, who are prosecuting the case.