Bartow Drive-By Shooting, Teen Death Lead To Sentence For Gang Leader

GEORGIA — A Cartersville man who authorities say led a “violent criminal organization” in northwest Georgia has been found guilty of charges related to an Atlanta-area nightclub shooting in 2017.

Maurice Antonio Kent, 32, was found guilty by a federal jury in Atlanta of RICO, or racketeering-related conspiracy; violent crime in aid of racketeering; discharging a firearm during the commission of those violent crimes; and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.

According to prosecutors, Kent led northwest Georgia members of the 135 Pirus gang. When one of those gang members got into an argument with a rival gang member outside a Brookhaven nightclub on May 13, 2017, Kent fired into the crowd, critically wounding the other gang member as well as a club security guard.

That incident led to the apparent execution of a 17-year-old 135 Pirus member for having talked to police after the shooting. Prosecutors said that soon after Kent heard that Qualeef Rhodes was believed to be “snitching,” 135 Pirus gang members lured the teenager to Bartow County, where they shot and killed him. Rhodes’ body was found on June 4, 2017, off Bells Ferry Road near White.

Another Cartersville man, Cedric Sams Jr., 29, had already been convicted of murder and firearms charges connected to Rhodes’ death. In addition, Michael Kent, 32, of Atlanta — Maurice Kent’s twin brother — was also convicted of racketeering-related conspiracy.

Other 135 Prius members who’ve already been convicted are:

• Christopher Nwanjoku, 30, from Lawrenceville, Georgia, was convicted of racketeering-related conspiracy
• Jamel Dupree Hughes, 27, of Atlanta, Georgia, was convicted of murder and firearms charges
• Jennifer Foutz, 30, of Acworth, Georgia, was convicted of murder and firearms charges

Sentencing for Kent and the other defendants will be scheduled at a later date.

Read the news release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

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