UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Clarence HANKTON and Gregory Davis,1 Defendants-Appellants. The government estimated that, based on Agent Darin's testimony and the wiretap evidence alone, Hankton was responsible for distributing approximately 456 grams of crack cocaine.16, Agent Darin also testified concerning Hankton's ascension from the role of don, the title he held in the mid-1990s, to King, the title he held from 1999 to 2001. In addition, the judge agreed to maintain the two witnesses statements under seal on the similar grounds. Matt Brandon of the CHA tactical unit. See United States v. Torres-Ramirez, 213 F.3d 978, 980-81 (7th Cir.2000) Under circumstances such as these we are unwilling to find fault with the sentencing judge's decision to credit Darin's statement in determining the drug quantity attributable to Hankton. The regular Mickey Cobras sets are definitely under the 5 (People Nation . "The loyalty is to the dollar," said Sgt. Gangs and Organized Crime - Google Books The Egyptian Cobras formed in the year 1954 on Chicago's west side on the corner of Roosevelt and Maxwell. See supra pp. A fact-finder must always draw inferences from veiled allusions and code words. In a separate indictment, Hankton was accused of passing on orders from gang higher-ups in April 1994 to have Williams killed over a narcotics dispute. In addition, the government contended that Hankton's offense level should be increased by 4 levels because the defendant was an organizer and leader of criminal activity that involved five or more participants, pursuant to U.S.S.G. The fact that Williams' murder appeared to involve a dispute over drug money, as opposed to drugs, would not preclude the sentencing judge from inferring that the incident was related to the MCs drug activities or from concluding that Hankton exerted the same authority over the gang's drug activities as he did over ordering beatings or murder. ", Rule No. Davis also challenges the enhancement of his sentence under 3B1.1(b) for being a manager or supervisor (but not an organizer or leader) in the criminal activity on identical grounds. The founder of the Egyptian Cobras was James Cogwell. Indeed, the federal criminal code makes clear that: No limitation shall be placed on the information concerning the background, character, and conduct of a person convicted of an offense which a court of the United States may receive and consider for the purpose of imposing an appropriate sentence. 18 U.S.C. The Mickey Cobras now have their written constitution and by-laws, which, like the modern-day BPSN, have a strong Islamic influence. Online Menu of Cobras & Matadors, Los Angeles, CA Not only do they give a vivid glimpse into the world of gangs but also, law enforcement authorities say, underline how central the drug business has become in some Chicago gangs. Bearing upon this was testimony given by a number of prosecution witnesses who confirmed Hankton's involvement in the murder of Annette Williams, a fellow member of the MCs, in April of 2004. The Spanish Cobras is a primarily, but not exclusively, . While it may be true that the sentencing judge primarily focused on Hankton's gang activities, there was good reason for doing so. Furthermore, Agent Darin also testified as to Davis' role as a manager/supervisor in the MCs drug operations. 841(a)(1). ", "They look at the buildings as their retail drugstore," said George Knox, a criminal justice professor at Chicago State University who has studied Chicago street gangs. See United States v. Puckett, 405 F.3d 589, 597 n. 8 (7th Cir.2005); United States v. Edwards, 397 F.3d 570, 574 (7th Cir.2005). Like the Cobras in Cabrini (the castle) were King Cobras and Mickey's. Then in the 90s to make it even worse Prince Money ( Mickey's son) flipped GD and allot of cobras went with him. Control means access to the profits from the drug trade. 841(a)(1) (Count VI). Smith was best friends with defendant's brother. Federal authorities dealt a blow Thursday to the Mickey Cobras street gang, charging 19 of its leaders and members with narcotics conspiracy and also indicting a top leader on charges he passed along orders to have a woman killed six years ago. In a number of those plea agreements, the defendants admit purchasing crack cocaine from Davis. Thus, because the plea agreements submitted at sentencing were corroborated by the credible testimony given by Agent Darin, as well as the live testimony of co-defendant Olden-both of which were subject to thorough cross-examination at sentencing-we hold that the sentencing judge did not err, much less commit clear error when considering this most reliable evidence when determining that Hankton was responsible for distributing in excess of 500 grams of crack cocaine pursuant to U.S.S.G. They are members of the People Nation in Illinois prisons. The LA Eme is a Hispanic Organized crime. Mickey Cobra History : r/Chiraqology - reddit Primarily, the group known as Mickey Cobras controlled the sale of narcotics and the life of most residents up until the 2000s. As such, gang members are forbidden from parking in the basketball court or playground from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. to leave room from customers. In one conversation with a MCs associate, for example, Hankton is asked whether he got that butter?. Following the arrests, on July 3, 2001, Hankton and Davis, along with six9 other individuals, were indicted inter alia on drug conspiracy and drug possession charges.10 As discussed infra, Hankton and Davis entered into separate plea agreements with the government and each of them admitted facts sufficient to establish criminal liability beyond a reasonable doubt. 3E1.1. The Mickey Cobras now have their own unique written constitution and by-laws, which show a strong Islamic influence, just like those of the modern-day BPSN. Also, Hankton and Davis were each charged with additional counts; Hankton was charged with knowingly and intentionally distributing over 150 grams of crack cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. The initial intercept ran from June 15 to July 14, 2000, when the warrant expired. Davis also threatened violence when he learned that Olden's drug dealers had invaded his territory. This evidence unquestionably evinces a level of control sufficient to satisfy the manager or supervisor enhancement pursuant to 3B1.1(b). 1820, 40 L.Ed.2d 341 (1974). 3. The district court's determination concerning a defendant's role in the offense is a finding of fact, subject to a clearly erroneous standard of review on appeal, United States v. Brown, 900 F.2d 1098, 1101 (7th Cir.1990), and this remains the case post-Booker. In addition, it was the government's position that the plea agreements received in evidence demonstrated Davis' authority position in the MCs, citing references to him as Sultan Supreme or lieutenant in the gang and leader of the MCs at the Lathrop Homes. Put simply, a district court may not characterize the same conduct in two different ways to arrive at two separate sentence enhancements that result in an upward adjustment of the sentencing range. See U.S.S.G. 7. In the Illinois prison system, they are a part of the People Nation. 12. (T. 1993, 2223, 3194). 4655 Hollywood Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90027 (Map & Directions) Phone: (323) 669-3922. Limit bathroom breaks to 15 minutes. 16. 2. 18. News from DEA, News Releases, 06/21/06 - DEA.gov 2D1.1. See United States v. Schmeilski, 408 F.3d 917, 920 (7th Cir.2005). The testimony given by Detective Charles and Agent Darin was more than reliable and therefore properly considered by the district court in sentencing Hankton. The email address cannot be subscribed. Which would make his base offense level 32. Hankton's role as King was also supported through Agent Darin's description of physical evidence that was confiscated from Hankton's residence upon a search warrant-such as letters calling Hankton the King, statues of cobras wearing crowns and jewelry of crowns-all referring to Hankton's leadership position in the gang as the King of Kings.. Meaning that, without anything more, evidence of drug transactions referenced in the telephone recordings that Agent Darin testified concerning was sufficient to attribute over 500 grams of crack cocaine to Hankton under the sentencing guidelines. In fact, both Agent Darin and Jammah Olden testified that the gang's sole source of revenues was from the sale of illegal drugs. See United States v. Schmeilski, 408 F.3d 917, 919 (7th Cir.2005). See U.S.S.G. 10. 841 and 846. According to metric-conversions.org, .375 ounces equates to approximately 10.63107 grams. At the close of the sentencing hearing, after weighing the evidence presented, the district court determined by a preponderance of the evidence that Davis had indeed possessed with intent to distribute between 50 and 150 grams of crack cocaine and that he was a manager or supervisor of a criminal activity, within the meaning of 3B1.1. This increased the pressure on law enforcement to go after the gang. Mickey Cobras Foondit 1954 Namit efter Henry "Mickey" Cogwell Foondin location Westside, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Years active 1954-Present Territory Chicago, Illinois Ethnicity Maistly African American Creeminal activities Drog Trokin, Robbery, Extortion, Murther Allies People Nation, Black P. Stones, Vice Lords Rivals The gang, called the Mickey Cobras, also sold crack cocaine, marijuana and the potentially lethal prescription painkiller fentanyl, according to authorities. Gang members who sell "packs" of cocaine "on the line" must be finished with work by midnight. As to the quantity of drugs Hankton should be held responsible for, it was the government's position that, pursuant to U.S.S.G. Specifically, the court found that Hankton's leadership role in the MCs was evinced by the fact that Hankton had the authority to order the beating of Annette Williams, knowing that the beating could lead to her death.. We uphold the validity of both Hankton and Davis' sentence, but remand to the district court for further consideration as mandated by this court's decision in United States v. Paladino, 401 F.3d 471 (7th Cir.2005). Both men also contend that the district court erroneously enhanced their sentences based on insufficient and unreliable evidence. However, a case was made, which was more than strong enough to convince the jury, that Vega used terms like chickens, roosters and it as code words for drugs. I've caught them as young as 12 on the line.". Scott Lassar said the pursuit of street gangs remained a top priority because of their control of narcotics in Chicago and the resulting violence.
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