Lester D. Williams | Homicide Watch DC

Brandon Miller Sentenced to 7 Years for Driving Shooters to Jamal Coates' Murder

Megan Arellano — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 18:40:21 -0400

Brandon Miller was sentenced Friday to seven years in prison for second-degree murder and conspiracy in connection with the shooting death of 21-year-old Jamal Coates. He is the fourth and final man to be sentenced for Coates' death.

On Friday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Gee said that Miller's decision to plead made him "one of the most important cooperating witnesses" of the past four years and requested a departure from the sentencing guidelines for him. Without Miller's cooperation, "it would have been exceedingly difficult to bring the members of G-Rod to justice," Gee said.

After pleading guilty in August 2011, Miller testified at trial that he drove his former co-defendants Keir Johnson, Lester Williams and Marcellus Jackson to the area of Ashley McRae's funeral, where Johnson and Williams shot at members of a rival crew, killing Coates.

His former co-defendants called themselves G-Rod, Miller explained at trial, and the group shared information, sold drugs, did robberies, murdered, and shot at people. "One person get into it, we all get in it," Miller said at the time.

As a result, Gee requested that Miller be sentenced to five to seven years for his charges. The maximum penalty for Coates' death was 55 years. Coates' family did not object to the agreement, Gee said, but decided not to attend Friday's sentencing.

Judge Lynn Leibovitz agreed that Miller's support was substantial and accepted the departure, saying that the convictions of his co-defendants would "not have been nearly as likely" without Miller's decision to testify.

According to the government's memorandum in aid of sentencing, Miller "foolishly agreed to drive his own car to and from the shooting" and later agreed to hide the murder weapons in his parents' house.

Miller appeared to be "thoroughly ashamed that despite having a good family upbringing and being intelligent, he permitted himself to fall so thoroughly into being involved in the streets and used by others," the memorandum said.

Defense attorney Anthony Matthews said though his client's decision was "made easier by the facts marshaled against him," Miller made a tough choice that resulted in "peril for his family, his child, and himself."

The decision was motivated in part by self-interest, Matthews said, but "a big part of that selfish interest is that he doesn't want his parents to feel they like squandered their time with him."

Before his sentence was delivered, Miller apologized, saying that he thinks about his actions every day. "I chose a lot of wrong," he said.

"People never forget how you make then feel," Miller said. "I put [the Coates family] through a lot of pain. I put my family through a lot of pain."

Plea documents, which were previously under seal, will be added below.

Keir Johnson Sentenced to 54 years for Daylight Shooting of Jamal Coates

Imari Williams — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 19:07:40 -0400

Judge Lynn Leibovitz sentenced Keir Johnson Friday to 54 years in prison, including 32 years for the shooting death of Jamal Coates.

"Taking lives is the most tragic thing you can do and it's distressing to see Mr. Johnson, who could have done anything, in this position," Leibovitz said before delivering her sentencing.

Johnson, along with three other men involved in the case were convicted of multiple criminal counts including conspiracy, murder, obstruction of justice, assault, and weapons charges.

Robert Givens, Marcellus Jackson, and Lester Williams were sentenced earlier in June for their participation in the death of Coates.

Coates, 21 at the time of his death, was killed a daylight shooting four years ago while leaving a friend's funeral near U Street Northwest. The encounter happened on a busy intersection with several eyewitnesses.

Jurors ultimately found Johnson guilty of first-degree premeditated murder in Coates' death, as well as other weapons, conspiracy and gang offenses.

Evidence in the trial showed Johnson's violent behavior, Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Gee said, and that there is "no doubt that Johnson had a leadership role in the crew."

Prosecutors argued at trial that the motive for all four defendants was their allegiance to the "G-Rod" crew and their attempt to gain power.

Defense Attorney Gregg Baron said it's a situation where no one wins.

"It's a case where there are no happy endings," Baron said. "I believe if given a chance, he can contribute to society."

A press release from the U.S. Attorney's office is below:

Gang Member Sentenced to 54 Years in Prison
For Taking Part in Conspiracy
That Led to Murders, Shootings, and Other Violence
-One Murder Took Place Outside a Funeral in Northwest Washington-

WASHINGTON – Keir Johnson, 24, a member of a criminal street gang based at 14th and Girard Streets in Northwest Washington, was sentenced today to a 54-year prison term on murder and other charges stemming from a conspiracy to assault, kill, and threaten rivals and obstruct justice.

The sentence, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, was announced by U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr., Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, and Robert D. MacLean, Acting Chief of the U.S. Park Police.

Three co-defendants -- Robert Givens, 21, Lester Williams, 26, and Marcellus Jackson, 26 – were sentenced in June 2014 to decades in prison for their roles in the crimes.

The men, all from Washington, D.C., were found guilty by a jury in March 2014, following nearly four months of trial. Johnson, Givens, and Williams were found guilty of murder and other offenses. Jackson was found guilty of murder, conspiracy, assault with a dangerous weapon, and related offenses.

The Honorable Lynn Leibovitz sentenced Johnson today. In June, she sentenced Givens to 30 years in prison; Williams to 47 ½ years of incarceration; and Jackson to 38 years.

The 14th and Girard gang, also known as G-Rod, 1-4, and the Cut Crew, was centered in the areas of 14th and Girard and 14th and Fairmont Streets NW. The group was engaged in a longstanding conflict with rival crews, especially ones that were based in the areas of 17th and Euclid Streets NW and the 600 block of Morton Street NW. The gang’s victims included Sean Robinson, 18, who was killed in the parking lot of a school in August 2010, and Jamal Coates, 21, who was killed following a funeral in September 2010.

Givens was found guilty of second-degree murder while armed in the slaying of Mr. Robinson, as well as a charge of assault with a dangerous weapon involving a second victim shot at the scene. He also was found guilty of conspiracy, firearms offenses, and charges that he committed the crimes for the benefit of a criminal street gang.

Johnson and Williams were each found guilty of first-degree murder while armed in the killing of Mr. Coates. They also were found guilty of assault with intent to kill in the shooting of another individual in that attack, as well as assault with a dangerous weapon for firing upon a third person that day. Johnson and Williams also were found guilty of conspiracy, firearms offenses, and charges that they committed the crimes for the benefit of a criminal street gang. Finally, Johnson also was found guilty of a charge of assault with intent to kill while armed stemming from a separate attack in June 2010 in which a man was wounded.

In addition to conspiracy, Jackson was found guilty of second-degree murder in the slaying of Mr. Coates, assault with a dangerous weapon involving an attack against one of the individuals with Mr. Coates, and charges that he committed the offenses for the benefit of a criminal street gang.

According to the government’s evidence, the shootings resulted from a longstanding conflict with rival crews. The government presented evidence of these and other crimes:

June 27, 2010: Johnson chased, shot, and attempted to kill a rival crew member in the parking lot of a gas station in the 3400 block of Georgia Avenue NW.

Aug. 11, 2010: Givens and others committed the murder of Mr. Robinson, who lived in the area of 17th and Euclid Streets, as well as the shooting of two 14-year-olds who were with him while they stood together in the parking lot of a school in the 2600 block of Mozart Street NW.

Sept. 28, 2010: Johnson and Williams committed the murder of Mr. Coates, a rival crew member, near 13th and U Streets NW, during the funeral procession for a young female with family ties to the rival crew. In addition to shooting Mr. Coates, Williams and Johnson shot a second person in the attack and fired upon a third individual. Jackson provided assistance to Johnson and Williams.

After the funeral shooting, the defendants took many steps to attempt to obstruct justice and avoid prosecution, such as trying to find and locate witnesses and in the case of two of the defendants, fleeing to North Carolina.

The men were indicted in December 2011, following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department, the U.S. Park Police, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Two other members of the crew earlier pled guilty to charges stemming from their violent conduct.

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen, MPD Chief Lanier, and Acting U.S. Park Police Chief MacLean thanked those who investigated the case from the MPD, the Park Police, and the DEA. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the U.S. Marshals Service; the FBI/MPD Safe Streets Task Force; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the FBI Cellular Analysis Survey Team; the FBI Digital Forensic and Analysis Section; the U.S. Secret Service Forensic Sciences Division; the District of Columbia Department of Corrections Office of Investigative Services; the District of Columbia Department of Forensic Sciences; the Washington D.C./Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area; the Alexandria, Va. Police Department; the Marlboro County, S.C. Sherriff’s Office, and the Miami-Dade County State’s Attorney’s Office. They also acknowledged the assistance of Bruce Budowle, PhD, executive director of the University of North Texas Health Science Center’s Institute of Investigative Genetics.

They expressed appreciation for the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sharad Khandelwal and Joseph P. Cooney, who helped secure the indictment; Assistant U.S. Attorney Kacie Weston, who assisted with trial preparation; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chrisellen Kolb and David Goodhand who assisted with legal analysis; and Michael Ambrosino, Special Counsel for DNA and Forensic Evidence Litigation. In addition, they acknowledged the work of Legal Assistants Kendra Johnson, Marian Russell, Sharon Newman, Kwasi Fields, Philip Aronson, and Benjamin Kagan-Guthrie; former Intelligence Analyst Lawrence Grasso; Intelligence Analyst Zachary McMenamin; Information Technology Specialist Leif Hickling; Victim/Witness Security Specialists Michael Hailey, M. Laverne Forrest, Debra Cannon, Tanya Via, and Katina Adams; Victim/Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker; and Criminal Investigators Durand Odom, Tommy Miller, Mark Crawford, and Christopher Brophy.

Finally, they expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Todd Gee, Emily Miller, Laura Bach, and Deborah Sines, who prosecuted the case.

Lester Williams, Marcellus Jackson Sentenced To Over 20 Years in Jamal Coates Shooting

Megan Arellano — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 23:57:28 -0400

"These defendants are our city's children, the verdicts against them are heartbreaking, the lives that they took were valued and the loss of those victims is heartbreaking," Judge Lynn Leibovitz said before delivering the sentences of Robert Givens, Marcellus Jackson, and Lester Williams.

The three men, along with Keir Johnson were convicted of multiple criminal counts including conspiracy, murder, obstruction of justice, assault, and weapons charges. Prosecutors argued that their allegiance to “G-Rod,” a group living near 14th and Girard, caused the death of Paul Jones, Sean Robinson and Jamal Coates.

Judge Leibovitz sentenced Jackson to a total of 38 years in prison, including 25 years for a charge of second-degree murder. Williams was sentenced to 47 and a half years in prison, including 37 years for a charge of first-degree murder.

"Each one of them had the resources to take a different path," said Leibovitz. "Instead they have destroyed lives, violently [took] lives of young men just like them, loved and beloved by their community and family."

Coates, 21, was shot and killed in September 2010 while leaving a friend’s funeral in the U Street corridor.

Prosecutors argued at trial that on Sept. 28, 2010, Brandon Miller drove Williams, Johnson and Jackson to the area of 13th and U Street Northwest. Jackson exited the car at 12th and V Street Northwest and gave Miller a description over the phone of the vehicle that rival gang members were in, prosecutors said.

Jurors found Johnson and Williams guilty of first-degree murder in Coates death; Jackson was convicted of second-degree murder in connection with Coates' death.

Jackson "could've been just about anything he wanted" when he graduated from college, said Leibovitz, and his decision to become a "killer" is "tragic".

Leibovitz added that he played a major role in the death of Jamal Coates, including "identifying the funeral of a human being" as a "good place" to commit murder, and later convincing his co-defendants to commit murder while he watched from a distance.

Delivering her sentence for Williams, Leibovitz said that not only did Williams shoot Coates, but he "laughed about it or bragged about it on the phone."

"I grieve for your child," Leibovitz told Williams. "But everyone here grieves for the loss of the man whose life you brutally ended in a funeral procession."

Johnson requested new representation and was not sentenced Friday. A status hearing in connection with his case is scheduled for June 26.

Outside the courtroom, Coates' mother, Hollis Coates, said, "I'm glad the judge was really fair with their sentences. I don't want nothing to happen to those boys, but my baby's gone."

A press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office is below.

Three Gang Members Sentenced to Decades in Prison For Taking Part in Conspiracy That
Led to Murders, Shootings and Other Violence-One Murder Took Place Outside a Funeral in Northwest Washington-

WASHINGTON – Three members of a criminal street gang based at 14th and Girard Streets in Northwest Washington were sentenced today to decades-long prison terms on murder and other charges stemming from a conspiracy to assault, kill, and threaten their rivals and obstruct justice.

The sentences, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, were announced by U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr., Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, and Robert D. MacLean, Acting Chief of the U.S. Park Police.

The defendants, all from Washington, D.C., include Robert Givens, 21; Lester Williams, 26, and Marcellus Jackson, 25. A fourth defendant, Keir Johnson, 24, will be sentenced at a later date.

The men were found guilty in March 2014, following nearly four months of trial. Givens, Johnson and Williams were found guilty of murder and other offenses. Jackson was found guilty of murder, conspiracy, assault with a dangerous weapon, and related offenses.

The Honorable Lynn Leibovitz sentenced Givens to 30 years in prison; Williams to 47 ½ years of incarceration; and Jackson to a 38-year prison term.

The 14th and Girard gang, also known as G-Rod, 1-4, and the Cut Crew, was centered in the areas of 14th and Girard and 14th and Fairmont Streets NW. The group was engaged in a longstanding conflict with rival crews, especially ones that were based in the areas of 17th and Euclid Streets NW and the 600 block of Morton Street NW. The gang’s victims included Sean Robinson, 18, who was killed in the parking lot of a school in August 2010, and Jamal Coates, 21, who was killed following a funeral in September 2010.

Givens was found guilty of second-degree murder while armed in the slaying of Mr. Robinson, as well as a charge of assault with a dangerous weapon involving a second victim shot at the scene. He also was found guilty of conspiracy, firearms offenses, and charges that he committed the crimes for the benefit of a criminal street gang.

Johnson and Williams were each found guilty of first-degree murder while armed in the killing of Mr. Coates. They also were found guilty of assault with intent to kill in the shooting of another individual in that attack, as well as assault with a dangerous weapon for firing upon a third person that day. Johnson and Williams also were found guilty of conspiracy, firearms offenses, and charges that they committed the crimes for the benefit of a criminal street gang. Finally, Johnson also was found guilty of a charge of assault with intent to kill while armed stemming from a separate attack in June 2010 in which a man was wounded.

In addition to conspiracy, Jackson was found guilty of second-degree murder in the slaying of Mr. Coates, assault with a dangerous weapon involving an attack against one of the individuals with Mr. Coates, and charges that he committed the offenses for the benefit of a criminal street gang.

According to the government’s evidence, the shootings resulted from a longstanding conflict with rival crews. The government presented evidence of these and other crimes:

June 27, 2010: Johnson chased, shot, and attempted to kill a rival crew member in the parking lot of a gas station in the 3400 block of Georgia Avenue NW.

Aug. 11, 2010: Givens and others committed the murder of Mr. Robinson, who lived in the area of 17th and Euclid Streets, as well as the shooting of two 14-year-olds who were with him while they stood together in the parking lot of a school in the 2600 block of Mozart Street NW.

Sept. 28, 2010: Johnson and Williams committed the murder of Mr. Coates, a rival crew member, near 13th and U Streets NW, during the funeral procession for a young female with family ties to the rival crew. In addition to shooting Mr. Coates, Williams and Johnson shot a second person in the attack and fired upon a third individual. Jackson provided assistance to Johnson and Williams.

After the funeral shooting, the defendants took many steps to attempt to obstruct justice and avoid prosecution, such as trying to find and locate witnesses and in the case of two of the defendants, fleeing to North Carolina.

The men were indicted in December 2011, following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department, the U.S. Park Police, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Two other members of the crew earlier pled guilty to charges stemming from their violent conduct.

In announcing the sentences, U.S. Attorney Machen, MPD Chief Lanier, and Acting U.S. Park Police Chief MacLean thanked those who investigated the case from the MPD, the Park Police, and the DEA. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the U.S. Marshals Service; the FBI/MPD Safe Streets Task Force; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the FBI Cellular Analysis Survey Team; the FBI Digital Forensic and Analysis Section; the U.S. Secret Service Forensic Sciences Division; the District of Columbia Department of Corrections Office of Investigative Services; the District of Columbia Department of Forensic Sciences; the Washington D.C./Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area; the Alexandria, Va. Police Department; the Marlboro County, S.C. Sherriff’s Office, and the Miami-Dade County State’s Attorney’s Office. They also acknowledged the assistance of Bruce Budowle, PhD, executive director of the University of North Texas Health Science Center’s Institute of Investigative Genetics.

They expressed appreciation for the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sharad Khandelwal and Joseph P. Cooney, who helped secure the indictment; Assistant U.S. Attorney Kacie Weston, who assisted with trial preparation; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chrisellen Kolb and David Goodhand who assisted with legal analysis; and Michael Ambrosino, Special Counsel for DNA and Forensic Evidence Litigation. In addition, they acknowledged the work of Legal Assistants Kendra Johnson, Marian Russell, Sharon Newman, Kwasi Fields, Philip Aronson, and Benjamin Kagan-Guthrie; former Intelligence Analyst Lawrence Grasso; Intelligence Analyst Zachary McMenamin; Information Technology Specialist Leif Hickling; Victim/Witness Security Specialists Michael Hailey, M. Laverne Forrest, Debra Cannon, Tanya Via, and Katina Adams; Victim/Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker; and Criminal Investigators Durand Odom, Tommy Miller, Mark Crawford, and Christopher Brophy.

Finally, they expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Todd Gee, Emily Miller, Laura Bach, and Deborah Sines, who prosecuted the case.

14-136

Marcellus Jackson Found Guilty in Murder of Jamal Coates

Dana Jennings — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 16:13:26 -0400

Marcellus Jackson was found guilty Tuesday of second-degree murder and related charges in connection with the 2010 shooting death of Jamal Coates.

Coates, 21, was killed in September 2010 while he and friends were leaving the funeral of Ashley McRae, a friend who had also been shot and killed.

Prosecutors alleged in an indictment that on Sept. 28, 2010, Brandon Miller drove Lester Williams, Keir Johnson and Jackson to the area of 13th and U Street Northwest. Jackson exited the car at 12th and V Street Northwest and gave Miller a description over the phone of the vehicle that rival gang members were in, prosecutors say.

Last week, Johnson and Williams were convicted of first-degree murder in the case.

Jackson, Johnson, Williams, and another man, Robert Givens, were co-defendants charged with 80 counts of crimes in a trial that started in November of last year.

After over a week of deliberations, the jury began delivering partial verdicts, finishing Tuesday with the last verdicts, including Jackson's guilty verdict. All four men were also found guilty of several weapons, conspiracy, and criminal street gang offenses.

In trial testimony, prosecutors portrayed the four men as "G-Rod" members, a gang named for their neighborhood street, Girard. Prosecutors said they wanted to build their power and attack rival gangs, one of which Coates was alleged to be in.

Jackson will be sentenced along with his co-defendants on June 13.

Defense attorneys argued that convicted "G-Rod" members who testified against the four men shouldn't be trusted.

The four co-defendants rejected a government plea deal last September in which all four would have had to agree to the second-degree murder guilty pleas.

Keir Johnson, Lester Williams, Found Guilty of First-Degree Murder

Kristian Hernandez — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 19:08:27 -0400

Keir Johnson and Lester Williams were found guilty of first-degree premeditated murder while armed and other weapons, conspiracy, and criminal street gang offenses Friday in connection to the shooting death of Jamal Coates.

Coates, 21, was shot and killed in September 2010 while leaving a friend’s funeral in the U Street corridor. The incident happened during broad daylight on a busy intersection with several eye witnesses to the shooting.

The trial, which began in November of last year, dealt with three separate murders, 80 criminal counts, and four co-defendants. After 38 days in trial and eight days of deliberations, the jury delivered a partial verdict late Friday afternoon.

During the trial prosecutors argued that the motive for all four defendants was their allegiance to "G-Rod" and their attempt to gain power.

Defense attorneys argued that eyewitness testimony contradicted that of former members of G-Rod who have been convicted and were called to the stand. They asked the jury not to trust "G-Rod" member testimony and to question some of the evidence used by prosecutors, such as a rap video in which all four defendants participated.

Williams and Johnson were charged along with Robert Givens and Marcellus Jackson in a trial that involved four of the seven men indicted in 2011 for a series of gang, weapons, drugs, and violent crimes reported to have taken place in Columbia Heights, Adams Morgan and the U Street corridor since 2006.

Givens was acquitted of the charge of first-degree premeditated murder while armed but was found guilty of the lesser charge of second-degree murder while armed in connection to the murder of Sean Robinson.

The jury delivered a partial verdict for Jackson and the judge asked the jury to continue deliberating Monday morning despite a note from the jury at 2:30 P.M. that stated "further deliberation will not provide/yield a unanimous verdict on Marcellus Jackson."

In September of last year Johnson and Williams turned down a government plea offer to second-degree murder while armed.

All four men including Jackson were found guilty of conspiracy, and criminal street gang offenses. Sentencing for Williams, Johnson and Givens is scheduled for June 13, at 10:30 A.M.

Defense Gives Closing Remarks in Murder Trial of Keir Johnson and Lester Williams

Dana Jennings — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 20:34:45 -0500

For nearly four months, jurors have heard evidence in the case charging Keir Johnson and Lester Williams with the shooting death of Jamal Coates, who was killed leaving a friend’s funeral in the U Street corridor in September 2010.

Prosecutors argued that Johnson and Williams, along with Robert Givens and Marcellus Jackson are linked by their allegiance to “G-Rod,” a group of “20 or so members” living near 14th and Girard. The four men face 80 criminal counts related to the deaths of Paul Jones, Sean Robinson and Coates.

On Tuesday, defense attorneys for Johnson and Williams addressed the jurors for a final time, arguing that eyewitness testimony contradicts with the testimony of witnesses who were former G-Rod members.

“The government says that you can’t believe the eyewitnesses, but that you should believe in Brandon Miller and Ricardo Epps,” said William's defense attorney Kevin Oliver. “Miller lied on the stand. That’s the type of person you are dealing with.”

On the stand, Brandon Miller explained that G-Rod was “like a crew almost. One person get into it, we all get in it.”

Miller told jurors that he drove Johnson and Williams to and from the U Street Corridor on the day of Coates's murder. Miller told jurors that during the shooting, Johnson wore a bandana and Williams wore a black hoodie.

On the stand, Miller testified that a pair of pants recovered from his car looked like the pajama pants that Keir wore.

“This case should be decided upon by facts, not on a riveting story full of holes,” said defense attorney Janai Reed on behalf of Johnson. "Miller testified that he didn't see Keir Johnson with a gun that day because he didn't see Keir Johnson at all."

Reed noted that the government is unable to "tell the difference between actions based on a friendship and gang-related activity.”

“When the government tells you what to see,” said Reed, “Use your own eyes instead.”

Closing arguments are expected to resume tomorrow, followed by jury deliberations.

Closing Arguments Begin in 'G-Rod' Murder Case

Kristian Hernandez — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 09:58:54 -0500

The murder of Jamal Coates is “not a case where there is someone that was shot in a dark alley and no one will ever be able to tell who did it," Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Gee said his closing arguments Wednesday. "This happened in broad daylight at one of the busiest intersections in DC.”

Prosecutors allege that Coates's death was a part of 80 criminal counts committed by four men linked by their allegiance to a street gang known as "G-Rod" that operated near 14th and Girard Street Northwest.

Keir Johnson, Lester Williams, Robert Givens and Marcellus Jackson are charged with conspiracy, first-degree murder, obstruction of justice, assault, and weapons charges related to the deaths of Paul Jones, Sean Robinson and Coates.

But Johnson and Williams are the men responsible for Coates's death, prosecutors say. They are charged with conspiracy, first-degree murder, assault with intent to kill, and several weapons charges in connection with Coates's death.

On Sept. 28, 2010, Coates went to Ashley McRae’s funeral at the Walker Memorial Baptist Church, on 13th and V Street Northwest. After, at approximately 11:45 a.m., Coates sat inside his friend Phil Tompkin's gold-colored Dodge hatchback with Miko Thompson as a large crowd of people exited the church.

The three men were waiting for a funeral procession to start when two men came up to the driver and passenger side windows and opened fire, according to court documents. Coates was shot several times and died from a bullet to the brain.

Thompson told jurors that he saw a man with a black t-shirt run to the driver’s side of the car, aim a gun towards Tompkins, “but the gun jammed”, Thompson said.

Then, Thompson said, the shooter “took off the safety and just started firing.” The scene was “chaotic”, with “around 10 shots” fired into the car.

“There are so many different descriptions of the shooters that you could come up with 15 different shooters that day," Gee acknowledged, "But there were not 15 shooters,” Gee told the jury.

Donald Ebert Cook, 50, testified that he was working at the southeast corner of 13th and Euclid Street Northwest that day. Cook told jurors when he went out to add more money to the meter, he noticed that it sounded like someone “was firing a gun”. From his vantage, Cook say that he saw “some individual shooting into a car when you got to the end of the van”.

By the time he reached the end of the van, Cook said that he “could tell exactly what was going on”. Cook told jurors that he saw the left side of the shooter coming from the back of a car to the front of the car. The shooter used a black semiautomatic, Cook said, explaining that he observed the gun’s type and color because he owns many guns and shoots frequently.

Cook said that he didn’t notice anything covering the shooter’s face. The shooter was about 5’10”, Cook said, wearing a black shirt with designs and a baseball cap.

Leslie Hall testified that she saw a shooter on September 28, 2010, from the second story window of her building. Hall said she heard “about eight” shots, but the first shot is what drew her to the window. The shooter that she saw appeared to be a slim person wearing a white hood, she said, and his face was covered by a black bandana.

“People in a confusing situation see different things,” explained Gee during his closing argument to the jury.

Gee is scheduled to continue his closing arguments Thursday.

"I Told Them it's Only a Matter of Time," Former Co-Defendant in Columbia Heights-Adams Morgan Gang Murder Case Testifies

Ivan Natividad — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 18:54:30 -0500

A long-standing gang rivalry in Columbia Heights/ Adams Morgan is now at the center of a DC murder trial stretching into its fourth month of testimony.

Over the past two weeks, a former member of one of those gangs has detailed the relationships -- and beefs -- that brought the two groups together and broke them apart.

Alleged gang members -- Keir Johnson, Lester Williams, Robert Givens and Marcellus Jackson -- are charged with 80 criminal counts including conspiracy, first-degree murder, obstruction of justice, assault, and weapons charges related to the deaths of Paul Jones, Sean Robinson and Jamal Coates.

For six days, Ricardo Epps, a witness for the government, has testified about his life as a member of "G-Rod," a group of "20 or so members" living near 14th and Girard Street Northwest.

"We robbed together. We knocked out white guys together. We stayed together," he said of his participation with the group.

Epps, 24, is a former codefendant in the case. He was initially charged in a 47-page indictment with eight counts of conspiracy, obstruction and felony violent misdemeanor offenses in connection with his participation in crimes committed by G-Rod. Epps was arrested on December 5, 2011 and admitted to being deceptive or "playing," with investigators during his initial interview.

"I wasn't being truthful about a lot of things, but I was about some things," Epps said while on the stand.

On December 12, 2011, Epps agreed to testify in the case as part of a plea offer and says he has told the truth since then. Epps pleaded guilty in January 2012 to three charges: conspiracy to obstruct justice, obstruction of justice, and affiliation with a street gang.

During trial, Epps told jurors that before he joined G-Rod, he was a member of a crew known as "1-7," and would hang with Coates and other members of the crew near 17th and Euclid Street Northwest.

Epps said that when he joined the 1-7 crew they had "beef" with G-Rod, but "it wasn't too serious at the time."

That changed when Phil Thompkins, a member of 1-7, got in a fight with Johnson, Epps said, adding that after that fight the rivalry intensified.

In August 2007, Epps said, 1-7 members shot and killed a member of G-Rod, Tayon Glover, in the 1400 block of Girard Street Northwest. After the shooting, Epps recalls saying the shooting "wasn't a good idea. It wasn't right.

"I wanted the beef to stop," Epps said. "I told them it's only a matter of time; members of G-Rod are going to retaliate."

Epps said he then began to distance himself from 1-7 and he stopped committing crimes with the crew. When Darrell Goins, who Epps said was a member of 1-7, was murdered in December 2008, Epps said he thought the crew blamed him for Goins death, claiming that the crew thought he "set him up" to get shot by G-Rod members.

Prosecutors have not argued that Goins was affiliated with any group.

Shortly after, Epps said he began to hang out with a member of G-Rod, Lafonte Carlton.

By March 2009, Epps considered himself a member of G-Rod, and told jurors that he became close with the co-defendants.

In court, Epps said that when Carlton was jailed in March 2009, Epps would call him to keep him updated on G-Rod matters. Often, the two men talked about criminal activities, including drug activity and shootings.

Coates, 21, was shot and killed on Sep. 28, 2010 after a funeral procession for his friend Ashley McRae, who was murdered a week earlier.

Epps told jurors that Coates was "one of the main dudes of the 1-7 crew." Epps said he called Carlton to tell him that Coates had been murdered.

"That's a big loss for them," Carlton is heard saying in a jail call played in court Thursday. "He was their heart."

According to Epps, Johnson and Williams went into hiding up to a year following Coates' murder. Epps recalls that he could not even reach them by phone, and that Johnson's cell phone number had been unreachable.

It wouldn't be until December 2011, after Epps was arrested in the case, that he would see or talk to the two defendants again. Epps currently awaits sentencing in a separate "cooperator wing," at the Central Detention Facility where he gets to hug his family when they visit.

Megan Arellano and Kristian Hernandez contributed to this story.

This story has been revised to clarify Darrell Goins' connections to the neighborhood groups.

Witness: Shooter in Jamal Coates Murder "took off the safety and just started firing"

Megan Arellano — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 16:09:23 -0500

Miko Thompson, 24, grew up with Jamal Coates playing sports at the Maria H. Reed Recreational Center from the time he was about 11 years old. But over the past two days, Thompson has been testifying about the shooting that killed 21-year-old Coates in September 2010.

Keir Johnson and Lester Williams are charged with first-degree murder in connection with the 2010 murder of Coates, who was shot and killed while leaving a friend’s funeral in the U Street corridor.

Prosecutors allege that Johnson and Williams, along with Robert Givens and Marcellus Jackson, are members of a group called "G-Rod," a group of 20 or so members living near 14th and Girard Street Northwest. The four men were indicted on 80 criminal counts including conspiracy, first-degree murder, obstruction of justice, assault, and weapons charges related to the deaths of Paul Jones, Sean Robinson and Coates.

On Tuesday, Thompson testified that beginning in 2005, he and his friends from the 17th and Euclid area often argued with the alleged G-Rod crew. "We would have verbal disagreements, verbal threats between us, in the streets," he said. "When I am out I have to take precautions, prepare myself for everything and be aware of my surroundings."

But on Sept. 28, 2010, Thompson attended Ashley McRae's funeral at the Walker Memorial Baptist Church, on 13th and V Street Northwest. Together with Coates and his friend Phil Tompkins, the three men had no arguments or confrontations with anyone that day: "We were there to pay respect," Thompson said. The men left the church at 11:45 a.m., walked to Tompkins' copper dodge parked on U Street, and prepared to drive to a funeral procession.

Thompson told jurors he then noticed a man with a black t-shirt covering his face run to the driver's side of the car. The man raised a gun and aimed it at the driver's seat towards Tompkins, "but the gun jammed", Thompson said.

Then, Thompson said, the shooter "took off the safety and just started firing." The scene was "chaotic", with "around 10 shots" fired into the car.

Tompkins managed to drive the car away while Thompson sat crouched in the back seat until "something hit us and we flipped over", Thompson testified. After that, Thompson crawled from the car's window and ran, "still in fear for my life," he told jurors. In the moment, Thompson did not know that Coates had been shot and killed, he testified.

The moment before Coates died, "He was happy," Thompson said. "He was Jamal."

The trial is scheduled to resume Monday at 9:30 a.m.

An earlier version of this story misstated that Thompson, Coates, and Tompkins were driving home. The men were driving to a funeral procession.

Additional reporting by Ivan Natividad

Prosecutor: 'G-Rod' members accused of murder "wanted power" in Columbia Heights, Adams Morgan Neighborhood

Megan Arellano — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 20:54:10 -0500

Members of a street gang that operated near 14th and Girard streets in Northwest D.C. were "not content to live in the neighborhood they were from," Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Gee told jurors Wednesday in opening arguments, beginning a trial of four co-defendants charged with three murders. Instead, Gee said, they "wanted power."

Keir Johnson, Lester Williams, Robert Givens and Marcellus Jackson are linked, Gee said, by their allegiance to "G-Rod," a group of "20 or so members" living near 14th and Girard.

The four men are charged with 80 criminal counts including conspiracy, first-degree murder, obstruction of justice, assault, and weapons charges related to the deaths of Paul Jones, Sean Robinson and Jamal Coates.

"G-Rod exists to control the neighborhood," Gee told the jury. "Members of G-Rod commit robberies, sell drugs, put together money to buy and sell together." But after a series of "petty arguments," people started getting hurt, and the retaliation became central to "G-Rod," Gee said.

Johnson's defense attorney, Janai Reed, warned jurors not to "take cultural differences as a crime." Reed noted that evidence from the government includes a rap music video that members of "G-Rod" recorded.

"Participating in rap music videos is not a crime," Reed said. "Living in a neighborhood with a name that existed before you lived there is not a crime."

Instead, Reed instructed jurors to look for "evidence you actually need" to link Johnson to the charges he faces.

Documents in the case allege that on January 9, 2009, 17-year-old Jones was "chased, shot, and killed" by members of G-Rod.

Givens and Jackson are charged with the murder of Sean Robinson, another alleged member of a rival gang, who was shot and killed in August 2010. Gee told jurors that Robinson was talking with a two teens in a school parking lot on August 11 when he was "chased down" and shot multiple times.

Johnson and Williams are charged with the September 2010 murder of Coates, who was shot and killed while leaving a friend's funeral in the U Street corridor. Gee told jurors that Coates was shot at least twice in a car belonging to a rival gang member, including one shot to the back of the head that "severed his brain" almost instantly.

Attorney Kevin Oliver, representing Williams, reserved the right to make his opening statement after the government has presented its case.

The trial will resume Thursday in Judge Lynn Leibowitz's courtroom.

Keir Johnson, Lester Williams Reject Plea Offer in Jamal Coates Murder

Ivan Natividad — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 16:24:31 -0400

Keir Johnson and Lester Williams turned down a government plea offer Thursday to second-degree murder while armed in connection with the shooting death of 21-year-old Jamal Coates.

The two men are charged with conspiracy, first-degree murder, assault with intent to kill, and several weapons charges in connection with Coates' death, who was shot and killed in September 2010 while leaving a friend's funeral.

Plea documents state that on August 20 prosecutors in the case sent a plea offer to Johnson and Williams which stated that if they pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed, for Coates' death, Johnson could be sentenced to 12 to 24 years in prison; Williams could be sentenced to 13 to 25 years in prison.

The four co-defendant case also includes co-defendants Robert Givens and Marcellus Jackson. Charging documents allege that the men belong to a street gang known as "G-Rod," and are responsible for five years of gang violence in Adams Morgan, Columbia Heights and the U Street corridor. Givens and Jackson are charged with the murder of Sean Robinson, an alleged rival gang member who was shot and killed a month before Coates.

Prosecutors in the case extended a similar plea offer to Givens and Jackson. The plea deals for all four men required that each of them plead guilty. If one man turned down the plea, guilty pleas from the other three would be rejected.

The plea offer was rejected by all four suspects Thursday.

Johnson seemed to be the only defendant who considered the plea offer, telling Judge Lynne Leibovitz that he would have accepted the plea offer if prosecutors would have allowed him to accept it as an individual, without the group contingency.

Williams and Givens wanted to cap the sentence between 15 and 18 years, while Jackson simply rejected any notion of the plea offer.

Johnson and Williams face the possibility of life in prison if convicted. Brandon Miller, a third suspect in Coates' death remains held pending the grand jury.

The trial is scheduled to begin September 23.

Keir Johnson and Lester Williams Plead Not Guilty to Murder of Jamal Coates

Penny Ray — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 19:33:12 -0500

Keir Johnson and Lester Williams both pleaded not guilty today at their arraignment on charges of conspiracy, first-degree murder, assault with intent to kill and several weapons charges.

Johnson and Jackson were among seven men named in an 80 count indictment that detailed five years of gang violence in Adams Morgan, Columbia Heights and the U Street corridor. Among the crimes charged in the indictment is a murder charge in connection with the shooting death of Jamal Coates.

A superceding indictment, on which they were arraigned Friday, added 36 counts.

The indictment alleges that the men were part of criminal operations of a street gang known as G-Rod, whose main objective "was to control for its exclusive use, criminal and otherwise, the area centering on the 1400 block of Girard St. N.W. and the 1400 block of Fairmont St. N.W., and including the surrounding territory."

Among other crimes, the crew is suspected of three homicides, including that of Jamal Coates, who was shot and killed while leaving a friend's funeral in the U Street corridor. Johnson and Williams are alleged to have murdered Coates in September 2010 for his affiliation with a rival crew.

At the arraignment Friday, Assistant United States Attorney Todd Gee offered a plea deal to all the suspects named int the indictment. Gee said that if each and every one of them were to plead guilty to one count of second-degree murder while armed, all other charges would be dismissed.

Accepting the plea would significantly shorten the potential prison terms allowing most of the defendants out of prison in their early forties.

If found guilty of the alleged crimes at trial, the suspects could be sentenced to life in prison.

The offer was verbally rejected by all six defendants.

Trial is scheduled to begin Feb. 4, 2013.

Murder, Drugs and Conspiracy: USAO Indicts Seven Men on Five Years of Gang Violence

Laura Amico — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 21:41:45 -0500

The US Attorney's Office has charged seven DC men with a series of gang, weapons, drugs, and violent crimes reported to have taken place in Columbia Heights, Adams Morgan and the U Street corridor since 2006.

Among those crimes are three homicides, including that of Jamal Coates, who was killed while leaving a friend's funeral in the U Street corridor last year.

The indictment, made public this week, alleges:

The defendants and their associates in G-Rod shared numerous common factors. They were residents of or otherwise associated with the turf and its environs. They were dedicated to reserving their turf to their exclusive use for criminal and or legitimate use and to avoid detection and successful prosecution by law enforcement. They were prepared to commit and did commit acts of intimidation, threats, violence, and obstruction of justice to exercise that control, avoid successful prosecution by law enforcement, and enhance the reputation of G-Rod for using intimidation, threats, and violence and thus facilitate G-Rod's control of the turf.

Two of the suspects named in the indictment, Marcellus Jackson and Keir Johnson, remained at large Wednesday afternoon and are wanted by authorities, people close to the case told Homicide Watch.

Others are expected in court Friday for a status hearing with Judge Thomas Motley. At least two of the defendants are expected to be arraigned at the end of the month.

The 47-page indictment charges Lafonte L. Carlton, Robert Givens, Devyn L. Black, Ricardo D. Epps, Marcellus E. Jackson, Keir Johnson and Lester D. Williams with the shooting deaths of Paul Jones and Sean Robinson, in addition to Coates. It also charges them with seven non-fatal shootings, as well as various weapons, conspiracy and other charges.

Court records show that Lester Williams, 24, and Ricardo Epps, 22, were presented with the charges at DC Superior Court on Tuesday. They are in custody, according to jail records.

Lafonte Carlton, 21, and Robert Givens, 19, are also in custody. Carlton was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder in January 2009 and Givens was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder in August 2010.

Jail records do not indicate that Devyn Black is in custody. Court records show that a notice of arraignment was mailed to him Wednesday.

The defendants--known by nicknames including Fonte, Fonny, Chop, Chopper, Flaca, Bunz, Hamburger, Cardo, Cool, Frank White, K, Ki, and Les--are believed to be members of a Columbia Heights crew known as "14th and Girard," "1-4," "G-Rod," or "Cut Crew.

The indictment alleges that the crew is a "criminal street gang whose object was to control for it's exclusive use, criminal and otherwise, the area centering on the 1400 block of Girard St. N.W. and the 1400 block of Fairmont St. N.W., and including the surrounding territory."

In long-standing turf wars with rival crews, including "17th and Euclid" also known as "1-7," and "Columbia Heights Village," also known as "CHV" and "V," members of G-Rod "did knowingly and willfully combine, conspire, confederate and agree together to threaten, assault, and kill anyone whose interests were contrary to those of the defendants and their associates."

Among the crimes included in the indictment are:

First-degree murder while armed (premeditated) in connection with the Jan. 9, 2009, shooting death of Paul Jones in the 1300 block of Columbia Road NW. Jones was 17-years-old when he was killed. Jones was associated with the Columbia Heights Village crew and was "chased, shot, and killed" by Carlton, Black, Williams, and others, the indictment alleges. A second person, Theodore Rhem, was also shot during this attack and survived. MPD's initial press release is here.
First-degree murder while armed (premeditated) in connection with the Aug. 11, 2010, shooting death of Sean Robinson. Two others, identified in the indictment as "TB" and "MW," were wounded. Robinson was 19-years-old when he was killed. The indictment alleges that he was "associated with the area of 17th and Euclid Streets," the territory of one of G-Rod's rivals. Givens and an unknown person are alleged to have shot at Robinson and the others. Jackson is alleged to have driven the getaway car. MPD's initial press release is here.
First-degree murder while armed (premeditated) in connection with the Sept. 28, 2010, shooting death of Jamal Coates. Coates was 21-years-old when he was shot at in the U Street corridor as he left the funeral of a friend, Ashley McRae. Two others, identified in the indictment as Phillip Thompkins and Mico Thompson, were also injured in this attack. All were considered to be members of the 17th and Euclid crew. Williams and Johnson are alleged to have fired the gunshots. Brandon Miller, who is not named as a suspect in this indictment, is alleged to have driven the getaway car. MPD's initial press release is here.

A source familiar with the case said the investigation is still underway and additional crimes, including homicide, may be added to the indictment.

While descriptions in the indictment make it appear that the defendants were seriously concerned that members of their group were police informants, the government's evidence into G-Rod's alleged illegal activities appears to be built from details learned through recordings of jailhouse phone conversations and letters exchanged between the defendants.

Read the indictment below.