UPDATE (1/29/16 4:25 p.m.)
United States Attorney for the District of Nebraska Deborah R. Gilg is has announced that gang-member Brandon Heard, the sole remaining fugitive from theRICO indictments, has been taken into custody.
She would like to thank the public for their valuable assistance in the capture of Heard.
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United States Attorney for the District of Nebraska Deborah R. Gilg announced the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned a 15 count indictment under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, commonly referred to as the RICO Act, of six individuals of the 40th Ave and 44th Ave Crips.
This was a three year long federal and local investigation impacting gun and gang violence coupled with witness intimidation in Northeast Omaha.
The individuals indicted, and others, were engaged in criminal activity including, but not limited to drug distribution, witness tampering, and acts of violence involving assault, murder and attempted murder. Indictments are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This investigation was spearheaded by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Omaha Police Department. The United States Attorney’s office will be assisted in the prosecution by trial attorneys from the U.S. Department of Justice, Organized Crime and Gang Section of the Criminal Division. All individuals are from Omaha.
Jerell Haynie, a.k.a. “Bootie,” a.k.a. “T”
Male, Age 32
Greg Bahati, a.k.a. “Pooh Bear,” a.k.a. “Murk 2x”
Male, Age 21
Dionte Dortch, a.k.a. “Killa Tay,”
Male, Age 22
Kendell Tealer
Male, Age 28
Brandon Heard, a.k.a. “B”
Male, Age 25
Julio Arias, a.k.a. “Rudy”
Male, Age 24
Count 1: (Lead charge) RICO Conspiracy, 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d), All Defendants are charged in
Count 1.
Penalties for Haynie, Bahati, Dortch, Heard and Arias: 0-20 years, $250,000, TSR 3 yrs., $100 SA
Penalties for Tealer: Death, NLT Life; $250,000, TSR 5 yrs., $100 SA
Count 2: Attempted Murder in-aid-of Racketeering, 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(5), defendant is Haynie.
Penalties: 0-10 yrs., $250,000, TSR 3 yrs., $100 SA
Count 3: Attempt to Commit Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in-aid-of Racketeering, 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(6), defendant is Haynie
Penalties: 0-3 yrs., $250,000, TSR 1 year, $100 SA
Count 4: Discharge a Firearm During a Crime of Violence, 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(ii) & 924(c)(1)(A)(iii), defendant is Haynie
Penalties: 10 yrs. to Life, $250,000, TSR 5 yrs., $100 SA
Count 5: Distribution of Cocaine Base, 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) & 841(b)(1)(C), defendant is Heard
Penalties: 0-20 yrs., $1,000,000, TSR 3 yrs., $100 SA
Count 6: Distribution of Cocaine Base, 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) & 841(b)(1)(C), defendant is Heard
Penalties: 0-20 yrs., $1,000,000, TSR 3 yrs., $100 SA
Count 7: Distribution of Cocaine Base, 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) & 841(b)(1)(C), defendant is Heard
Penalties: 0-20 yrs., $1,000,000, TSR 3 yrs., $100 SA
Count 8: Threats in Aid of Racketeering, 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(4), defendant is Bahati
Penalties: 0-5 yrs., $250,000, TSR 3 yrs., $100 SA
Count 9: Brandishing a Firearm During a Crime of Violence, 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(ii), defendant is Bahati
Penalties: 7 yrs. to Life, $250,000, TSR 5 yrs., $100 SA
Count 10: Felon in Possession of a Firearm, 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) & 924(a)(2), defendant is Dortch
Penalties: 0-10 yrs., $250,000, TSR 3 yrs., $100 SA
Count 11: Witness Tampering, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1512(b)(1), 1512(b)(2)(A) & 1512(b)(3), defendant is Dortch
Penalties: 0-20 years, $250,000, TSR 3 yrs., $100 SA
Count 12: Attempted Obstruction of Justice, 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)(2) defendant is Dortch
Penalties: 0-20 years, $250,000, TSR 3 yrs., $100 SA
Count 13: Distribution of Cocaine Base, 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) & 841(b)(1)(C), defendant is Arias
Penalties: 0-20 yrs., $1,000,000, TSR 3 yrs., $100 SA
Count 14: Distribution of Cocaine Base, 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) & 841(b)(1)(C), defendant is Arias
Penalties: 0-20 yrs., $1,000,000, TSR 3 yrs., $100 SA
Count 15: Distribution of Cocaine Base, 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) & 841(b)(1)(C), defendant is Arias
Penalties: 0-20 yrs., $1,000,000, TSR 3 yrs., $100 SA
U.S. Attorney Gilg stated: “These gangs formed a criminal enterprise with the sole objective of drug trafficking and protecting their turf by violence including shootings, murder and attempted murder. The use of the RICO tool in the indictment is a warning to other gangs involved in similar conduct that law enforcement will use every method available to interrupt and terminate the cycle of violence and fear perpetuated by these gangs. The witnesses in these cases are courageous and are to be commended for their willingness to stand up and present evidence to the grand jury.”
