Fourth Sentenced for Violent Shooting in Aid of Racketeering | USAO-NDIN

FORT WAYNE – United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty convicted a fourth member of “2500,” a Fort Wayne street gang, for committing violent crimes in favor of extortion, US Attorney Clifford D. Johnson said . These accused of violent crimes were committed during the “beef” or ongoing argument in 2500 with a rival Fort Wayne street gang. In the commission of these crimes, 2,500 members were assisted by Grit Gang, a street gang based in Bloomington, Indiana.

This fourth gang member, Demetri D. Beachem, 27, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced to 288 months (24 years) in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.

According to documents in this case, gang members from 2500 and Grit Gang were involved in drug and arms trafficking and responsible for violent criminal gang activity. On October 4, 2014, the defendants received an offensive video posted on social media by rival gang members. In response to the post, they found rival gang members at a residence in Fort Wayne, Indiana. When the defendants saw their rivals leave the house, they started shooting and shot this house and a neighboring house. The defendants fired about 50 shots, putting the lives of people in both houses and many bystanders at risk. In fact, one person suffered a minor wound.

All four defendants have pleaded guilty to attempted attack with a dangerous weapon for the purpose of extortion in two cases; a charge of assault with a dangerous weapon in favor of extortion; and three instances of firing a firearm during and in connection with a violent crime. The other convicted members were:

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 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 supervised release; and

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

“The attorney general has directed US attorneys to prosecute violent criminals who too often endanger the lives and safety of law-abiding citizens. These charges show that the agency will vigorously prosecute those who commit violent crimes in the northern Indiana district, ”said US Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.

“This defendant and his gang mates terrorized innocent community members through their violent activities, and this ruling not only highlights the grave consequences of participating in gang activities, but also ensures that their reign of terror is over,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent Paul Keenan. “It should also send a clear message that the FBI and our partners will come for you if you sell guns and drugs in our communities.”

This interagency investigation was conducted by the Safe Streets Gang Task Force of the Federal Bureau of Investigation 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. The Bloomington Police Department, Indiana State Police Laboratory Division and Detective Bureau and Gang and Violent Crimes Unit of the Fort Wayne Police Department also helped with this investigation. This case was being prosecuted by US Assistant Attorneys Anthony W. Geller and Stacey R. Speith.

This case is being pursued under the joint federal, state and local Safe Neighborhood Program (PSN), which is at the heart of the Department of Justice’s efforts to reduce violent crime. PSN is an evidence-based program that has been shown to be effective in reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a wide range of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to resolve them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses its enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and works with local prevention and re-entry programs to reduce crime on a sustainable basis.

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https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndin/pr/fourth-sentenced-violent-shooting-aid-racketeering