White Sail
Junior News Editor
http://www.columbiatribune.com/2009/Jan/20090130News006.asp
Alleged gang members arrested
Cut Throats tied to three shootings.
By JOE MEYER of the Tribune’s staff
Published Friday, January 30, 2009
Don Shrubshell photo
Columbia interim Police Chief Tom Dresner discusses the arrests of 16 alleged members or associates of the Cut Throats gang. Also shown, from second to left, are Dan Jones , FBI assistant special agent in charge; Dan Knight, prosecuting attorney; Steven Berry, assistant prosecuting attorney; Tony Gonzalez, assistant U.S. attorney; Larry Miller, assistant U.S. attorney; and Dan Nelson, executive assistant U.S. attorney.
Police reversed years of hesitation about whether gang-related violence occurs in Columbia yesterday when
they announced the results of an 18-month joint investigation by local and federal authorities into a violent street gang that resulted in federal charges against 16 people.
The suspects, including 14 Columbia residents, are accused of being members or associates of a gang known as the Cut Throats. A 34-count federal indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Jefferson City on Jan. 22 alleges the gang operated in Columbia and Jefferson City from about January 2007 until September and is tied to at least three drive-by shootings at convenience stores, including two in Columbia.
FBI agents used wiretaps to help uncover the drug-trafficking conspiracy and interstate sales of crack cocaine, powder cocaine and marijuana. Authorities also allege that three suspects illegally possessed firearms, including two semiautomatic rifles - an SKS and AK-47.
"The days of not really saying there are gangs in Columbia are over," interim Police Chief Tom Dresner said at a news conference yesterd
ay afternoon.
Under the leadership of former Police Chief Randy Boehm, police officials for years had been hesitant to acknowledge gang activity in Columbia.
"If you want to talk technically, yes, we have gang activity," Boehm said in November 2007 when announcing the formation of a task force to combat an increase in shootings and robberies. "But we don’t have it in a traditional way. We don’t have Crips and Bloods and you have to worry about getting shot for wearing the wrong colors."
Dresner said acknowledging there are gangs in Columbia does not mean the city is unsafe, adding that he does not think police have changed how they will address them. "We’re not really doing anything different," he said. "I think just getting rid of the semantic dancing."
Authorities declined to say what the Cut Throats used to distinguish themselves, such as distinctive clothing or hand gestures. They also declined to identify any rival gangs.
If convicted, all 16 defendants would each
face at least 10 years in federal prison for the conspiracy count, said Don Ledford, spokesman for U.S. Attorney John Wood’s office.
A federal indictment was unsealed yesterday after police raids to arrest some of the suspects and initial court appearances by others.
Named in the indictments are 14 Columbia residents: brothers Eric S. Coats, 21, and Koda A. Coats, 22; their mother, Donna C. Coats, 39; Dametrell K. Washington, 27, identified as a brother of the Coatses; William R. Boyd, 21; Demarco L. Burnett, 24; Tarron M. Cason, 25; Cheviss C. Denny, 20: Dajuan A. Harris, 25; Brandon J. Isom, 19; Ryan M. Kee, 22; William H. Rogers, 42; Diondre J. Cooper, 19; and Robert D. Simmons, 36. The grand jury also indicted Michael L. Stapleton, 22, of Fayette and Robert L. Jones, 19, of Kansas City.
Seven of the defendants were in custody when the indictments were handed down, Execu
tive Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Nelson said, and nine defendants were arrested yesterday by the Columbia police SWAT team. The defendants are all being held at facilities throughout the state, Nelson said.
Federal prosecutors have asked that all of the suspects be held without bond, citing the potential for danger to the community and their risk of flight.
Along with the drug-trafficking conspiracy, federal prosecutors allege that Eric and Koda Coats, Boyd, Denny, Harris, Jones and Simmons used illegally possessed firearms "to intimidate, harass and injure others in order to reduce or limit competition, establish territory or enforce debts."
Boone County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Knight said because the case will be brought in federal court, all the defendants could stand trial together, which is more efficient to prove a conspiracy; if it were a state court case, each defendant would receive a separate trial.
"This is just a great day for law enforcement in general," Knight said
yesterday.
Columbia police Sgt. Brian Richenberger, supervisor of the department’s narcotics unit, said police had heard of the Cut Throats for years.
"It’s a huge relief," Richenberger said. "Obviously, the work is not done. It’s a milestone for the investigation."
Dresner said police would continue to work hard to crack down on other gangs in existence or that might take the place of the suspects who were arrested.
"We’re on it," he said. "When there’s a vacuum, it’ll get filled. They do what they do; we do what we do."
Alleged gang members arrested
Cut Throats tied to three shootings.
By JOE MEYER of the Tribune’s staff
Published Friday, January 30, 2009
Don Shrubshell photo
Columbia interim Police Chief Tom Dresner discusses the arrests of 16 alleged members or associates of the Cut Throats gang. Also shown, from second to left, are Dan Jones , FBI assistant special agent in charge; Dan Knight, prosecuting attorney; Steven Berry, assistant prosecuting attorney; Tony Gonzalez, assistant U.S. attorney; Larry Miller, assistant U.S. attorney; and Dan Nelson, executive assistant U.S. attorney.
Police reversed years of hesitation about whether gang-related violence occurs in Columbia yesterday when
they announced the results of an 18-month joint investigation by local and federal authorities into a violent street gang that resulted in federal charges against 16 people.
The suspects, including 14 Columbia residents, are accused of being members or associates of a gang known as the Cut Throats. A 34-count federal indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Jefferson City on Jan. 22 alleges the gang operated in Columbia and Jefferson City from about January 2007 until September and is tied to at least three drive-by shootings at convenience stores, including two in Columbia.
FBI agents used wiretaps to help uncover the drug-trafficking conspiracy and interstate sales of crack cocaine, powder cocaine and marijuana. Authorities also allege that three suspects illegally possessed firearms, including two semiautomatic rifles - an SKS and AK-47.
"The days of not really saying there are gangs in Columbia are over," interim Police Chief Tom Dresner said at a news conference yesterd
ay afternoon.
Under the leadership of former Police Chief Randy Boehm, police officials for years had been hesitant to acknowledge gang activity in Columbia.
"If you want to talk technically, yes, we have gang activity," Boehm said in November 2007 when announcing the formation of a task force to combat an increase in shootings and robberies. "But we don’t have it in a traditional way. We don’t have Crips and Bloods and you have to worry about getting shot for wearing the wrong colors."
Dresner said acknowledging there are gangs in Columbia does not mean the city is unsafe, adding that he does not think police have changed how they will address them. "We’re not really doing anything different," he said. "I think just getting rid of the semantic dancing."
Authorities declined to say what the Cut Throats used to distinguish themselves, such as distinctive clothing or hand gestures. They also declined to identify any rival gangs.
If convicted, all 16 defendants would each
face at least 10 years in federal prison for the conspiracy count, said Don Ledford, spokesman for U.S. Attorney John Wood’s office.
A federal indictment was unsealed yesterday after police raids to arrest some of the suspects and initial court appearances by others.
Named in the indictments are 14 Columbia residents: brothers Eric S. Coats, 21, and Koda A. Coats, 22; their mother, Donna C. Coats, 39; Dametrell K. Washington, 27, identified as a brother of the Coatses; William R. Boyd, 21; Demarco L. Burnett, 24; Tarron M. Cason, 25; Cheviss C. Denny, 20: Dajuan A. Harris, 25; Brandon J. Isom, 19; Ryan M. Kee, 22; William H. Rogers, 42; Diondre J. Cooper, 19; and Robert D. Simmons, 36. The grand jury also indicted Michael L. Stapleton, 22, of Fayette and Robert L. Jones, 19, of Kansas City.
Seven of the defendants were in custody when the indictments were handed down, Execu
tive Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Nelson said, and nine defendants were arrested yesterday by the Columbia police SWAT team. The defendants are all being held at facilities throughout the state, Nelson said.
Federal prosecutors have asked that all of the suspects be held without bond, citing the potential for danger to the community and their risk of flight.
Along with the drug-trafficking conspiracy, federal prosecutors allege that Eric and Koda Coats, Boyd, Denny, Harris, Jones and Simmons used illegally possessed firearms "to intimidate, harass and injure others in order to reduce or limit competition, establish territory or enforce debts."
Boone County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Knight said because the case will be brought in federal court, all the defendants could stand trial together, which is more efficient to prove a conspiracy; if it were a state court case, each defendant would receive a separate trial.
"This is just a great day for law enforcement in general," Knight said
yesterday.
Columbia police Sgt. Brian Richenberger, supervisor of the department’s narcotics unit, said police had heard of the Cut Throats for years.
"It’s a huge relief," Richenberger said. "Obviously, the work is not done. It’s a milestone for the investigation."
Dresner said police would continue to work hard to crack down on other gangs in existence or that might take the place of the suspects who were arrested.
"We’re on it," he said. "When there’s a vacuum, it’ll get filled. They do what they do; we do what we do."
