4 Youngstown gang members convicted of conspiracy to commit racketeering

CLEVELAND — Four Youngstown men, who were convicted of conspiracy to commit racketeering for their street gang activities on the South Side of Youngstown, are likely to go to prison for many years.

The defendants, who were convicted today, were among 23 people named in a 42-count indictment in March 2011 for their involvement with the LSP gang.

Convicted of conspiracy to commit racketeering were Daquann Hackett and Derrick Johnson Jr., both 22, who the U.S. Attorney said were gang leaders; Terrence Machen and Edward Campbell.

Hackett is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, and Johnson is facing 40 years of mandatory prison time. Sentencing guidelines call for prison terms of 188 to 235 months for Machen and 168 to 210 months for Campbell, the U.S. Attorney said.

The three-week jury trial was before U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent, who will sentence the four men at a later date.

Carlton Council Jr., 29, was acquitted of the racketeering count.

For the complete story, read Friday's Vindicator and Vindy.com