SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Damani Prince, age 26, of Syracuse, was sentenced today to 78 months in prison based on his guilty plea for violating the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), announced United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith, James N. Hendricks, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Chief Kenton Buckner, City of Syracuse Police Department.  In imposing sentence, Senior United States District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. also ordered Prince to serve a three-year term of supervised release following his release from imprisonment. 

As part of his earlier guilty plea, Prince admitted that he was a member of the 110 Gang operating in the City of Syracuse, and had distributed crack cocaine and possessed a firearm in connection with his membership in the gang. Prince was one of 14 defendants indicted for violating RICO based on their membership in the 110 Gang.  The other 13 men have all pled guilty or been convicted at trial, and are awaiting sentencing.  

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),  the Syracuse Police Department, and the Gang Violence Task Force, which consists of members of the Syracuse Police, the FBI, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the New York State Police, the New York State Department of Corrections, the New York State Attorney General, and the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicolas Commandeur and Kristen Grabowski.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Following an eight-day trial, a federal jury in Syracuse convicted Anthony Hopper, age 32, of Syracuse, of violating the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), announced United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith; James N. Hendricks, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Syracuse Police Chief Kenton Buckner.  The RICO conviction included a finding that Hopper was guilty of a murder.  The jury acquitted on another murder allegation contained in the RICO indictment and on a charge of discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence.   The other 13 men charged in the same indictment as Hopper have all pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing.  

During the trial, jurors heard testimony from members of the 110 Gang and others about the 110 Gang’s robberies, drug trafficking, and illegal possession of firearms.  They also heard from witnesses who described how the 110 Gang retaliated against other gangs for shootings and murders. 

“No one should have to live in a neighborhood controlled by thugs,” said U.S. Attorney Grant Jaquith. “Thanks to the dedicated work of the Syracuse Police Department, the FBI, and law enforcement agencies in Onondaga County, another 110 Gang member will now be held responsible for killing a person in our community.  We will never waver in our resolve to prosecute violent gang members.”

Syracuse Police Chief Kenton Buckner, said, “The Syracuse Police Department would like to thank United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith for his partnership in the indictment of 14 men, members and known associates of the “110” Gang, on Racketeering charges. The convictions of these individuals culminates the efforts of our local, state and federal partners.  This is another example of how working together is beneficial to our entire community.  We look forward to continuing in this partnership.”

“Anthony Hopper chose to terrorize his community through violence and fear on behalf of the 110 Gang, and now he will face the consequences of those actions,” said James Hendricks, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).  “The FBI and our partners will continue to aggressively pursue gangs wherever they surface and are committed to making Syracuse and the surrounding communities a safe place for our citizens.”

Sentencing is scheduled for June 16, 2020 in Syracuse before Senior United States District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. Hopper faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, based upon the jury’s finding that he was guilty of committing a murder. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),  the Syracuse Police Department, and the Gang Violence Task Force, which consists of members of the Syracuse Police, the FBI, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the New York State Police, the New York State Department of Corrections, the New York State Attorney General, and the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicolas Commandeur and Kristen Grabowski.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith today announced the unsealing of an indictment charging 14 men with conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) from 2012 until now.  According to the indictment, the 110 Gang uses murder, robberies, assaults, threats and firearms to control the gang’s territory and to expand the gang’s power and reputation. The gang also sells drugs and commits credit card fraud to make money.  The indictment alleges that the following defendants, all residents of Syracuse, are members or associates of the 110 Gang:

Daquan Dowdell, a/k/a “Cannon,” age 27

Anthony Hopper, a/k/a “A-Dog,” age 31

Javon Peterson, a/k/a “Blaze,” age 36

Davon Sullivan, a/k/a “Lil Squeeze,” age 23

Jamar Long, a/k/a “Spanky,” age 23

Deshawnte Waller, age 41

Shaquille Breland, a/k/a “Shaq,” age 25

Reddell Smith, a/k/a “Renny,” age 33

Rashwan Wynn, a/k/a “Wormy,” age 42

Qualik Vaughn, a/k/a “Q,” age 24

Terry Linen, a/k/a “Six,” age 26

Jason Lebron, a/k/a “Rilla,” age 26

Kemnorris Kinsey, a/k/a “Pep,” age 31

Damani Prince, age 25

According to the indictment:

The gang’s territory is on the southwest side of the City of Syracuse,   defined by Tallman Street to the north, Onondaga Avenue to the west, Centennial Drive to the south and Lincoln Avenue to the east. 110 Gang members routinely guard that territory and resort to acts of violence, if necessary, to ensure that no rival gang members encroach upon their territory to sell drugs, or for any other reason. 110 Gang members also occasionally resort to violence within their territory that is not directly related to their drug business, but helps to cement their reputation as violent and feared criminals.  The gang uses intimidation, violence, threats of violence, robberies, assaults, murders and attempted murders to instill fear of the gang, and to protect and expand the gang’s operations.  Gang members routinely carry firearms to protect their territory, protect their drug trade, project a violent attitude to rival gang members and to retaliate against rival gang who committed acts of violence against 110 Gang members. 

The indictment details numerous specific acts involving murders, robberies, drug trafficking and credit card fraud.    Those acts include 2 murders allegedly committed by 110 Gang members as well as several shootings targeting both rival gang members and other members of the public.  Other acts are possessions of illegal firearms including the practice of sharing “community” guns among gang members, associates and others.  Twenrty acts relate to the 110 Gang’s drug dealing, and 3 relate to its use of counterfeit credit cards at financial institutions, stores and businesses.

All 14 defendants are charged with membership in a RICO conspiracy, conviction for which carries a maximum sentence of up to life imprisonment, a period of supervised release of up to 5 years and a fine of up to $250,000.00.   A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith said, “Today’s indictment marks the first step in holding 14 members of the 110 Gang responsible for the intimidation, violence, threats, robberies, assaults, and murders their gang has committed in Syracuse.  Our work is far from done, and we will continue to collaborate with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to use every available tool to hold gang members and affiliates responsible for their crimes so that  hard-working Syracuse citizens and their children do not have to endure the costs of gang violence.  Thank you to all of the law enforcement agencies who worked together to bring this important case.”

“Today's arrests are the result of countless hours of dedicated work," said James Hendricks, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).  "Syracuse neighborhoods are safer than they were just hours ago, but the pursuit of violent gang members is not over. The FBI is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to target and eliminate the significant threats to our communities posed by violent gang activity.”

Syracuse Police Chief Frank Fowler said, “First, I’d like to thank all of our Law Enforcement partners for their help in the investigation and indictment of these violent offenders.  Secondly, I think it is important to note that early on in this process, many of our local service providers offered various forms of assistance to gang members who wanted to take a different path.  Many of them—in fact more than were indicted today—took advantage of this assistance, and consequently their names and faces are not part of this roundup.”

New York State Police Superintendent George P. Beach, II said, “These arrests show how important collaboration and information sharing are among law enforcement agencies across our state. These vital partnerships were instrumental in these arrests and the dismantling of a dangerous criminal organization. We will not tolerate any kind of gang activity in our communities nor the racketeering, drug trafficking, burglary, and violence perpetuated by it.  The State Police and our partners will continue to work together to rid our communities of these dangerous criminals and keep our neighborhoods safe.”

“Historically, the 110 Gang has been a source of drugs, violence, and crime throughout the southwest side of Syracuse,” said U.S Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Acting Special Agent in Charge Keith Kruskall.  “Fourteen members of this gang are charged in a RICO conspiracy as a result of law enforcement collaboration and a determined goal of making our city safer from gang violence and drug trafficking.”    

The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Syracuse Police- Gang Violence Task Force, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the United States Marshals Service, the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the United States Postal Inspection Service, the New York State Police, the Onondaga County Crime Analysis Center (OCAC), the New York State Attorney General’s Office, the Onondaga County Sherriff’s Department and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicolas Commandeur, with assistance from the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office.