From: "Press, MPD (MPD)" <mpd.press@dc.gov>
To:
"mpd-5d@yahoogroups.com" <mpd-5d@yahoogroups.com>
Sent:
Saturday, May 11, 2013 10:58 AM
Subject:
[MPD-5D] Four Members of “Show Out” Crew Sentenced To Prison Terms for Series
of Assaults
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday,
May 10, 2013
For
Information Contact:
Public
Affairs
(202)
252-6933
Four
Members of “Show Out” Crew Sentenced To Prison Terms for Series of Assaults
-Group
Targeted Victims in Chinatown and Other Areas-
WASHINGTON
– Four men, all from Washington, D.C., were sentenced Friday to prison terms
on charges stemming from various gang-related crimes, including beatings,
attempted robberies,
and obstructing justice, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. and Cathy
L.
Lanier,
Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
The
defendants were among six men who pled guilty in February 2013, in the Superior Court
of the District of Columbia, to actively participating in a crew called “Show
Out” that committed
crimes in areas including Chinatown, Metro Center, NoMa, Bloomingdale, and Woodley
Park. Since at least Jan. 1, 2012, the crew’s members canvassed the areas
looking for targets
of opportunity and teamed up to assault their victims, rob them of items of
value, or both. They
pursued people they thought were vulnerable to their surprise attacks,
including people traveling
alone to or from work, homeless people, and people distracted by their
cellphones.
The
crew also was accused of engaging in “flash mob” style robberies at drug
stores,
convenience
stores, and gas stations, in which multiple members flooded in to the business
at the same
time, overwhelming and intimidating the staff, and stealing items.
The
Honorable Lynn Leibovitz sentenced the defendants this morning. They included Quayshawn
L. Leggett, 20, who allegedly had a senior position in the group; James D. Matheny, 19;
Ricardo J. Williams, 20, and Travis L. Morris, 21.
Leggett
was sentenced to nine years in prison on one count each of aggravated assault,
attempted
robbery, and committing a crime while affiliated with a criminal street gang.
Matheny
also
was sentenced to a nine-year prison term, on one count each of aggravated
assault,
obstructing
justice, threats to do bodily harm, and committing a crime while affiliated
with a
criminal
street gang. Williams was sentenced to an 8 ½-year prison term on one count
each of
aggravated
assault, attempted robbery, and committing a crime while affiliated with a
criminal
street
gang. Morris was sentenced to six years and eight months in prison one count
each of
aggravated
assault and committing a crime while affiliated with a criminal street gang.
Upon
completion of their prison terms, all four of the defendants will be placed on
three
years
of supervised release.
Two
other leaders of the “Show Out” crew, both of Washington, D.C., are scheduled
to
be
sentenced May 24, 2013. They include Bernard Trowell, also known as “McLovin,”
19,
described
in an indictment as “the self-styled president” of the group, and Deandre M.
Williams,
19.
Both pled guilty in February 2013 to charges stemming from their roles in the
crimes.
“The
Show Out crew ambushed vulnerable victims in some of our city’s most vibrant neighborhoods,”
said U.S. Attorney Machen. “Today’s sentences hold four members of the crew accountable
for their roles in a series of beatings, robberies, and flash mobs. These
prison terms are
just punishment for the lawless behavior of these young people.”
“This
pack of thugs roamed around the city and preyed upon people whom they
perceived
to be vulnerable,” said Police Chief Lanier. “The level of violence was
unjustifiable. I
commend
the officers and detectives from the First District, the members of the
Intelligence
Division
and our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their efforts in bringing
these
criminals
to justice.”
As
part of their plea agreements, the defendants, along with Trowell and Deandre Williams,
admitted participating in various crimes, including these incidents:
-June
5, 2012: Beating in the 600 block of H Street NW
All
six defendants who pled guilty in February admitted taking part in the beating
of a
man
near a bus stop in the 600 block of H Street NW. As the victim approached the
bus stop, at about
3:20 a.m., he was surrounded and assaulted. Deandre Williams and a juvenile
member of Show
Out knocked the man to the ground, and then multiple members punched, kicked
and stomped
him. Deandre Williams and others stole items from the victim while he was on
the ground,
including his cellphone and bank card. The victim was knocked unconscious for
several minutes.
He eventually found a police officer and received medical attention. He was
treated later
for a concussion, broken nose, and bruises to the head, face and torso.
--June
5, 2012: Beating near 2d and K Streets NW
Crew
members targeted a second victim at about 3:45 a.m. The victim was walking to work
near 2d and K Streets NW when Deandre Williams approached him and struck him repeatedly
about the face and head with his fists. During this attack, Deandre Williams
shouted racial
slurs at the victim. The victim received medical treatment on the scene and
later was given stitches
to close a bleeding laceration to the side of his face. Deandre Williams pled
guilty to assault
with significant bodily injury for his role in this attack.
-June
7, 2012: “Flash Mob” near North Capitol Street and Florida Avenue
Ricardo
Williams and several others approached a gas station and convenience store at about
4:20 a.m., in the area of North Capitol Street and Florida Avenue. After the station attendant
opened the locked door, Williams and the others overwhelmed and intimidated
him. They
grabbed food or beverage items and fled without paying. Ricardo Williams pled
guilty to attempted
robbery for his participation in this attack.
-June
19, 2012: Obstruction of Justice
During
the evening hours, Deandre Williams and others approached a former associate at
a
bus stop in Chinatown and threatened to kill him if he talked to police.
Deandre Williams pled
guilty
to obstruction of justice for this incident.
-June
21, 2012: Attack at Metro Center
Leggett
and others were on the lower platform at the Metro Center Metro station when
they
confronted a man at about 5:20 a.m. Leggett demanded money and threatened the
victim.
The
victim did not give him any money, and one of the individuals punched him in
the face,
knocking
him down. Leggett pled guilty to attempted robbery for his role in this attack.
-July
31-Aug. 1, 2012: Threats to Do Bodily Harm, Obstruction of Justice
Matheny
posted audio recordings to his Facebook page, in which he is rapping. In three of
them, he accused a Show Out member of “snitching.” The songs carried a threat
that this member
would be shot “on sight.” Matheny pled guilty to threats to do bodily harm and obstruction
of justice for these threats.
As
part of the plea agreement, the government dismissed charges against the
defendants
involving
four other violent crimes that were charged in the indictment. The indictment
covered a
total of 10 violent crimes, nine of which occurred during a three-week period
in June 2012.
Two
other defendants in the case earlier pled guilty to charges, and a third adult
member of
the crew is still being sought. The investigation into other members of the
crew is ongoing.
**
In
announcing the sentences, U.S. Attorney Machen and Chief Lanier commended the work
of the officers, detectives and crime scene technicians who worked on the case
for the MPD.
They also expressed appreciation for the efforts of the Metro Transit Police
Department, which
assisted in the investigation. Additionally, they thanked local businesses for
their assistance
in the investigation, including Transwestern, a property management company,
and employees
of Securitas, a private security firm. Finally, they praised the work of those
who are handling
the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys
Thomas Bednar
and Clare Pozos, who are prosecuting the matter.
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