43
7 in gang case plead not guilty
The Vindicator (Youngstown)
Photo
Kenneth Whatley of Youngstown pleaded not guilty to charges tied to suspected LSP gang activity.
LSP GANG
Still wanted
These suspected members of the LSP Gang are still wanted by local and federal authorities. Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to call the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives at 1-800-ATF-GUNS.
Rashan Bell: 34
Carlton Council Jr.: 28
Aldric Jones: 20
Michael Jones: 26
Terrence Machen Jr.: 19
Photo
Suspected LSP Gang member Carlton Council Jr. is still wanted by local and federal authorities.
Photo
Suspected LSP Gang member Terrence Machen Jr. is still wanted by local and federal authorities.
Photo
Suspected LSP Gang member Michael Jones is still wanted by local and federal authorities.
YOUNGSTOWN
The judicial process is under way for several men facing felony state charges in connection with alleged illegal activity of the LSP gang on the city’s South Side.
One by one, seven of the alleged gang members, or their attorneys, appeared Tuesday before Magistrate Dominic DeLaurentis of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. Some waived an appearance in court, entering a not guilty plea via their attorneys. A county grand jury secretly indicted them earlier this month.
The specific charges against them weren’t given in court, but their felonies range from drug possession and trafficking to engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity to illegal possession of weapons.
Those who made bond appeared in civilian clothes and stood before the court, but some appeared in the orange county-issued jumpsuit they have worn since the sting operation earlier this month.
LSP stands for the streets from which the gang ran its suspected criminal enterprise — LaClede, Sherwood and Parkview avenues. Police and members of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have been investigating the group for two years.
Councilman Paul Drennen, D-5th, said residents in his city ward where the gang operated are happy to see the group of men behind bars instead of freely roaming the neighborhood causing trouble for those who try to live there in peace.
“I was aware of the investigation for a long time and happy to see this come to fruition,” he said. “It is definitely a positive to take these criminals off the street.”
Federal authorities said the gang has operated on the South Side for nearly a decade selling drugs and guns and plotting murder.
There are a total of 31 men facing charges in connection with the gang. The remaining 24 are facing federal charges and due to appear for a detention hearing in federal court this week.
Davon Johnson, 25, no address given, was scheduled to appear for arraignment, but his appearance was postponed because he had not been notified. He is scheduled to appear next Tuesday.
Jeremiah McClarin, 25, Wolosyn Circle, and Dante Bebbs, 26, Madison Avenue, waived their appearances for arraignment, but did enter not guilty pleas to felony charges against them via their attorneys. Both men are free on $10,000 bond.
McClarin is next due to appear before Judge Lou A. D’Apolito on Friday. Bebbs is due to appear before Judge James Evans on March 29 for pretrial.
Van Lightning, 21, of Shehy Avenue, pleaded not guilty to all charges against him and is due to appear before Judge Maureen Sweeney on March 29.
Jeremy Tomlin, 24, Chicago Avenue, is also free on $10,000 bond. He entered a not guilty plea to all charges against him and is scheduled to appear before Judge Evans on March 29.
Kenneth Whatley, 24, West Delason Avenue, is in the county jail. He entered a not guilty plea to all charges against him and asked the magistrate for a court-appointed attorney because he has not been employed since 2006. He was given an attorney to handle his case.
Jawuan Moore, 25, Lee Avenue, also remains in the county jail. He pleaded not guilty to all charges against him and asked the judge to reduce his bond from $10,000 to $5,000. He said he is employed at a local call center and responsible for the care of two minor children. The magistrate deferred any decision on bond to Judge Evans at Moore’s next court date March 29.
Drennen also said city officials are not standing for the activity any longer.
He said council will look into abandoned houses where the gang activity took place and see about having those houses razed.
He also said council will talk with any landlords who may have rented to gang members.