Accused Gang Members Sentenced In Teen's Death, RICO Charges

ATLANTA, GA — Eight people accused of being members of the street gang 135 Pirus were sentenced to federal prison on RICO charges and in connection with the death of a 17-year-old boy, according to the U.S. Department of Justice Wednesday.

Maurice Antonio "Savage Duze" Kent, 32, was the lead defendant in the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations case and is accused of being a gang leader in northwest Georgia, according to U.S. Attorney Ryan Buchanan. Kent is accused of having authority over members in Cartersville and Rome.

The investigation into Kent started when he was accused of shooting into a crowd during an argument the morning of May 13, 2017, at a Brookhaven nightclub, the DOJ said. The argument was between a California-based 135 Pirus gang member and a rival gang member, the DOJ said.

According to the DOJ, when Kent shot into the crowd, he wounded one of the gang members and a club security guard.

After leaving the scene, the DOJ said Kent tossed the gun from a car. He was arrested, and while in custody, he learned authorities were interviewing a 17-year-old accused of being a fellow gang member who may have witnessed the shooting, the DOJ said.

Kent thought the teen was "snitching;" and two days later, 135 Pirus members lured the teen to Bartow County, the DOJ said. They shot and killed him in Bartow County with Kent's gun, leaving the teen's body on a rural road, the DOJ said.

It came out during a federal trial that Kent was accused in the drive-by shooting of a man who was standing in his front yard in Cartersville, the DOJ said. Kent is accused of throwing the gun into Lake Allatoona, which was later recovered by the FBI, the DOJ said. The cartridge casings and a bullet from the shooting matched Kent's gun, the DOJ said.

Kent was found guilty on May 18 of RICO conspiracy charges, violent crime in aid of racketeering, discharging a firearm during the commission of violent crimes and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, the DOJ said. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, the DOJ said.

Relating to the RICO charges, Gary Terrell "Bhody" Davis, 36, of Cartersville, an accused associate of the 135 Pirus gang, was also sentenced.

Davis is accused of being responsible for a series of violent acts throughout Georgia's northern district. He was sentenced to seven years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, the DOJ said.

In addition to Kent and Davis, the following people were previously convicted and sentenced in the case, according to the DOJ:

• Christopher "Problem" Nwanjoku, 30, an accused 135 Pirus leader from Lawrenceville, received a sentence of 25 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Nwanjoku pled guilty to RICO conspiracy.

• Jamel Dupree "Savage" Hughes, 28, an accused 135 Pirus member from Atlanta, received a sentence of 26 years and two months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Hughes pled guilty to murder in aid of racketeering, use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death, attempted murder in aid of racketeering and discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

• Cedric "Awall" Sams Jr., 30, an accused 135 Pirus member from Cartersville, received a sentence of 20 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Sams pled guilty to murder in aid of racketeering and use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death.

• Michael "Wikked" Kent, 32, an accused 135 Pirus associate from Atlanta and Maurice Kent’s twin brother, was sentenced to 20 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Michael Kent pled guilty to RICO conspiracy.

• Jennifer "Rose" Foutz, 30, an accused 135 Pirus member from Acworth, was sentenced to 12 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Foutz pled guilty to aiding and abetting murder in aid of racketeering and aiding and abetting the use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death.

• DaSean Dorey, 29, an accused 135 Pirus member from Decatur, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Dorsey pled guilty to aiding and abetting murder in aid of racketeering and aiding and abetting the use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death.

The case was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program combining all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve in efforts to reduce violent crime and gun violence, the DOJ said.

“The pain and fear these defendants caused through their senseless violence has forever altered the lives of the victims, the victims’ families and the witnesses brave enough to assist investigators,” Buchanan said in a news release.

“We are grateful to our law enforcement partners for their perseverance in investigating the various acts of violence and threats of violence committed by this gang over the years and for bringing a measure of closure to those who have been impacted. While the perpetrators of these crimes are now in prison, tragically the gang culture that promoted these violent acts remains a scourge in our community. At-risk teens remain vulnerable to the lure of gang culture and require our collective diligence to avoid this dangerous path.”