Gang investigation: Arraignment Wednesday, Hamilton arrested on murder charge
A federal takedown of warring street gangs in the City of Poughkeepsie resulted in more than 30 arrests last August on charges that ranged from firearms and drug possession to murder.
Nearly one year later, many of the alleged members of the "Uptown" and "Downtown" gangs arrested will be arraigned again Wednesday, following developments in the case that included one additional arrest and three men entering guilty pleas.
Davonte Hamilton was arrested and arraigned Monday on charges that include racketeering conspiracy and murder in aid of racketeering activity, that stem from his alleged involvement in the December 2012 killing of Daquell LeBlanc, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.
The takedown was initially announced on Aug. 17, as 31 members of the rival gangs were named in two separate federal racketeering conspiracy indictments announced by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Among the casualties of the gangs' activity was, according to the indictment, Caval Haylett Jr., an 18-year-old scholar-athlete at Poughkeepsie High School. Haylett was shot in the head at a March 9, 2016 barbecue on Winnikee Avenue with a bullet meant for someone else, according to officials.
Two superseding indictments were issued last Wednesday, which included the charges brought against Hamilton: racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering activity and murder through the use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
Hamilton, 21, who was already in custody on state charges, pleaded not guilty on Monday. A representative of the U.S. Attorney's Office said the other defendants named in the indictments will be arraigned Wednesday. There is no timeline for when the trials would begin.
According to court documents, three alleged Downtown members, Rakee Johnson, Glorius Landrum and Kwamene Williams, all changed their pleas from not guilty to guilty in recent months. All pleaded guilty to narcotics conspiracy charges, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Each have scheduled dates to be sentenced in the next three months, according to court documents.
Hamilton became the third alleged member of the Uptown gang to be charged in the death of LeBlanc, 17, an alleged member of the Downtown gang. Markel Green, 21, and Raheim Miller, 21, had previously been arrested and face the same charges as Hamilton. All three face the possibility of life in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
In the release, U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: "As alleged, Davonte Hamilton aided and abetted the murder of Daquelle LeBlanc nearly six years ago. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to pursue justice for victims like Mr. Leblanc against all involved in such violent offenses."
Poughkeepsie Police Chief Thomas Pape said in August the start of the violence could be traced to the Dec. 23, 2012 slaying of LeBlanc, who was killed by a single gunshot to the chest on the 300 block of Main Street.
Surge in killings, drugs
The two gangs' broad reign of terror, dating back to 2012, contributed to a surge in killings and drug activity in the city, according to Joon H. Kim, then the acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, in August. Then, he estimated that a vast majority of the 89 shootings and 21 murders between 2012 and 2016 were linked to gang activity.
Members of both gangs took their names from musical groups — "Quez the Rapper" and "Top Gun" among them — and used an assortment of names to refer to themselves or their gang.
Uptown members referred to themselves as the "Spready Gang," "Mob Stars" and "Boogotti Boys," the indictment says. Their territory was centered on the eastern portion of Poughkeepsie, specifically the Hudson Gardens housing project commonly known as the "Bricks."
Downtown members referred to themselves as "420 Boys" and "Hamo Gang," among others. They were based on the west side of the city, west of Hamilton Street to the Hudson River and the Martin Luther King and Rip Van Winkle housing developments.
Firearms were shared and stashed away in various locations as both sides plied a bustling trade in heroin, crack, cocaine and marijuana in the city.
Nicholas Harris, Dimetri Mosely, and Jahquez Hill, alleged members of the Uptown gang, face life in prison or the death penalty for their alleged role in the slaying of Haylett.
Prosecutors say the three men, in response to provocations on Facebook posted by Downtown members arrived at a barbecue with two guns in an attempt to exact revenge.
Haylett was out with friends celebrating after he had scored 21 points and had been named most valuable player in the Exceptional Seniors Game. He died the following day.
Range of charges
According to court documents, Uptown had multiple criminal objectives, including the operation of drug markets in locations in Poughkeepsie which distributed heroin, cocaine base or crack, and marijuana.
Along with Hamilton, Harris, Moseley, Hill, Green and Miller, other Uptown members charged with racketeering include Douglas Owens, Jihad Williams, Christian Blades, Ashanti Bunn, Rayshawn Casanova, Trequon Dancy, and Rashmi Ruparelia.
Like Uptown, Downtown had multiple criminal objects, including the sale of distribution of heroin, cocaine base or crack, and marijuana throughout Poughkeepsie.
Charged under racketeering were Downtown members Ronald Johnson, Markus Anderson, Savon Bagby, Natquan Catts, Jahquez Coleman, Walter Coleman, Chevez Derello, Leonard Derello, Tyreck Douglas, Erving Ferzan, Rakee Johnson, Corey Latimer, Antoine McKinnon, Wayne Morgan, Gordon Riddick, and Keenan Watts.
Some members of both gangs face firearms and narcotics charges.
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