CHICAGO — A joint federal and state investigation has resulted in racketeering and murder charges against five alleged members of a Chicago street gang faction known as the Goonie Boss.  The charges allege that Goonie members and their associates terrorized the Englewood neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side and were responsible for a total of eleven murders.

A federal racketeering indictment returned Thursday in U.S. District Court in Chicago charges four of the alleged Goonie members with participating in a criminal organization that murdered its rivals, intimidated witnesses to crimes, and publicly boasted about their gang activities on social media.  The federal racketeering indictment charges ten murders, six attempted murders, and two assaults.  The four federal defendants are in custody, and their arraignments in federal court have not yet been scheduled. 

A fifth Goonie member was charged in state court with committing the eleventh murder.  He is in custody and will appear in Cook County Criminal Court at a later date.

The charges were announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Kimberly M. Foxx, Cook County State’s Attorney; Jeffrey S. Sallet, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Eddie T. Johnson, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department.

Federal RICO Indictment

The federal indictment charges four Goonie members with racketeering conspiracy: ROMEO BLACKMAN, 22; TERRANCE SMITH, 22; JOLICIOUS TURMAN, 27; and NATHANIEL MCELROY, 21; all of Chicago.  The indictment describes Blackman as the leader of the gang who personally oversaw and directed its illegal activities.   

The federal charges allege that the Goonie gang has been involved in a longstanding, violent feud with several rival gang factions in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago.  During this conflict, Goonie members and their associates allegedly murdered and assaulted rivals, stole firearms to arm themselves, and violently prevented witnesses from cooperating with law enforcement.  Goonie members posted comments, photographs and videos on the Facebook Live application, openly proclaiming their membership in the gang and boasting about its violent acts, the indictment states.

The federal indictment accuses the Goonie gang of committing ten murders in Chicago in furtherance of the gang’s activities:

Turman allegedly murdered Kenneth Whittaker, 34, on July 1, 2016, near an elementary school in the 7400 block of South Morgan Street.

Members of Goonie Boss allegedly murdered Gerald Bumper, 19, on June 30, 2016.

Turman allegedly murdered Ramal Hicks, 34, on June 20, 2016, outside of a store in the 1500 block of West 69th Street.

Blackman and McElroy allegedly murdered Gerald Sias, 38, on May 26, 2016, inside a barber shop in the 1100 block of West 63rd Street.

Blackman allegedly murdered Davon Horace, 19, on Jan. 15, 2016, in the 7200 block of South May Street.

Blackman allegedly murdered Andre Donner, 26, on Dec. 13, 2015, in the 7200 block of South May Street.

Blackman and Smith allegedly murdered Krystal Jackson, 25, on Nov. 19, 2014, in the 6800 block of South Loomis Boulevard.

Blackman and Smith allegedly murdered Stanley Bobo, 18, on Oct. 23, 2014, in the 1400 block of West 72nd Street.

Blackman allegedly murdered Alonzo Williams, 24, on March 21, 2014, in the 1200 block of West 70th Street.

Blackman allegedly murdered Johnathon Johnson, 21, on Jan. 22, 2014, in the 6900 block of South Racine Avenue.

Racketeering conspiracy generally carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, but a sentence of life in prison or the death penalty is possible for certain underlying racketeering activities, including certain murders charged in the indictment.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Albert Berry III of the Northern District of Illinois, and Cook County Assistant State’s Attorneys Yvette Loizon and Ethan Holland, who serve as Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys, represent the government in the federal case.

State Murder Charge

CHRISTIAN SIVELS, 19, of Chicago, is charged with first-degree murder in the killing of David Easley, 26, on May 21, 2016.  Easley was shot and killed while walking in the 7000 block of South Carpenter Street in the Englewood neighborhood.

Sivels will appear at a later date in Cook County Criminal Court.  The first-degree murder charge is punishable by a sentencing range of 45 years to life in prison.  The People of the State of Illinois are represented by Assistant State’s Attorneys Michael Golden, Ethan Holland, Yvette Loizon and Maureen McCurry.

Other Charges as Part of Investigation

The joint federal and state investigation, which spanned multiple years, also resulted in separate charges against Blackman, McElroy and several other alleged Goonie members or associates for various firearm offenses:   

In May 2017, Blackman and two others – RASHAD ANCHANDO and KEITH GULLENS – were charged in federal court with conspiring to steal firearms from a gun store in Streator, Ill.  The trio allegedly stole a black Jeep Wrangler and used it in a smash-and-grab theft of 18 handguns, a rifle and a shotgun, according to the indictment in that case.  Anchando, of Chicago, and Gullens, of Streator, Ill., pleaded guilty to their roles in the heist and were sentenced to prison terms of five years for Anchando and four years and six months for Gullens.  Blackman has pleaded not guilty in that case and is awaiting trial.

In September 2017, McElroy and four others – CORNELIUS BATTLE, DALRICK DRAIN, REGINALD JOHNSON and LASHON MOORE – were indicted on federal firearms violations for allegedly conspiring to “straw purchase” handguns in Michigan and re-sell them in Chicago.  Johnson, of Kalamazoo, Mich., pleaded guilty to dealing firearms without a license.  He is awaiting sentencing.  The four others have pleaded not guilty to the charges in that case and are awaiting trial.

In April 2018, convicted felon and Goonie member JAVONTE N. STOKES, of Chicago, pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a firearm.  Stokes admitted possessing a loaded handgun in Calumet City, Ill., on March 17, 2017.  Stokes was sentenced to six months in federal prison.

In March 2017, convicted felon and Goonie member QUINCY FERGUSON, of Waukegan, Ill., was charged in federal court with illegal possession of two rifles and two handguns in Waukegan.  Ferguson pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.

In August 2017, BRENT TURPIN, of Chicago, was charged in federal court with supplying ammunition and gun accessories to a suspected gang member who was a convicted felon.  Turpin pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.

Four alleged Goonie members and associates are charged in state court with murder related to acts of violence alleged in the federal RICO indictment: TREVANTE REED, 18; LAMAR ISAAC, 35; KWANTE HUGHES, 21; and DEMARCO BENNETT, 22; all of Chicago.  All defendants charged in state court are in law enforcement custody.

~~~

The public is reminded that charges contain only accusations and are not evidence of guilt.  The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

CHICAGO — Five defendants have been indicted on federal firearms violations for conspiring to “straw purchase” handguns in Michigan and re-sell them in Chicago.

Michigan residents CORNELIUS BATTLE and DALRICK DRAIN purchased firearms from federally licensed dealers in Kalamazoo, Mich., and falsely certified on required forms that they were the actual buyers of the guns, the indictment states. Battle and Drain purchased the guns on behalf of NATHANIEL McELROY, a Chicago resident who identified which firearms he wanted and had paid Battle and Drain a premium over the stores’ prices, according to the indictment. In the first six months of 2017, the trio and two other defendants, REGINALD JOHNSON and LASHON MOORE, caused at least nine handguns to be purchased in Michigan and transported to Chicago, the indictment states.

The two-count indictment was returned Aug. 31, 2017, in federal court in Chicago, and ordered unsealed on Sept. 7, 2017. It charges the defendants with one count of conspiracy to willfully deal firearms without a license, to willfully transfer firearms to non-Michigan residents, and to knowingly make false statements in connection with the acquisition of a firearm; and one count of willfully dealing firearms without a license.

“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to aggressively using federal firearm laws to keep illegal guns off the streets,” said Joel R. Levin, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. “We will use whatever federal tools are appropriate to prosecute straw purchasers and hold them accountable for bringing illegal firearms into Chicago.”

Acting U.S. Attorney Levin announced the charges along with Michael J. Anderson, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Chicago Police Department provided valuable participation in the investigation.

McElroy, 21, was arrested on Aug. 31, 2017. During a detention hearing in federal court in Chicago last week, U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan E. Cox ordered McElroy detained in federal custody pending trial. McElroy’s next court date has not yet been set.

Battle, 23, of Kalamazoo, Mich., was arrested in Michigan on Sept. 1, 2017. During a detention hearing in federal court in Kalamazoo last week, U.S. Magistrate Judge Phillip J. Green ordered Battle released on home confinement. Judge Green ordered Battle to appear in Chicago on a future date to be determined by the Court.

Moore, 28, of Kalamazoo, Mich., is currently in custody in Michigan on an unrelated state charge. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will seek his removal to Chicago at a future date.

Arrest warrants have been issued for Drain, 27, and Johnson, 24, both of Kalamazoo, Mich. They were not custody as of today.

The indictment describes two purchases made at the Kalamazoo firearm businesses. On Feb. 28, 2017, Drain bought two guns at On Target; and on March 30, 2017, Drain bought two guns from Dunham Sports, the indictment states. Other defendants and an unindicted member of the scheme later conspired to transfer the guns to Chicago, the indictment states. The charges allege that the defendants’ straw purchasing scheme violated a federal law that requires individuals purchasing certain firearms from an out-of-state dealer to first have the firearms transferred to a dealer in the buyer’s state of residency before the individual can legally take possession.

The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Each count of the indictment is punishable by a maximum sentence of five years in prison. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Albert Berry III and Ankur Srivastava.