Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Baltimore, Maryland – Takuma Tate, a/k/a “Oop,” a/k/a “Ook,” age 39, of Baltimore pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise known as Murdaland Mafia Piru (MMP) and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. 

Tate was one of 26 alleged MMP gang members and associates charged in this case.  Thirteen of the 26 defendants indicted have pleaded guilty to their participation in the racketeering conspiracy. 

The plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Stephen M. Schenning; Special Agent in Charge Daniel L. Board, Jr. of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives—Baltimore Field Division; Commissioner Darryl DeSousa of the Baltimore Police Department; and Chief Terrence B. Sheridan of the Baltimore County Police Department.

According to court documents, MMP, also known as the “Mob” or “Mobsters,” is a violent subset of the Bloods gang that for many years controlled the drug trade in large swaths of Northwest Baltimore City and neighboring Baltimore County.  MMP was modeled after the Italian Mafia. Members and associates of MMP operated street-level drug distribution “shops” in various locations in Baltimore City and distributed heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana, among other controlled substances. The gang’s drug shop in the 5200 block of Windsor Mill Road was particularly lucrative due to its close proximity to Interstate 70 and  frequently attracted drug customers driving from western Maryland and neighboring states. MMP members were required to pay dues to the gang consisting of a portion of the proceeds of their criminal activities, and they were subject to reprisal—and sometimes murder—for failing to do so.  Non-members who wished to sell drugs in MMP’s territories were forced to pay a “tax” or were targeted for violence by MMP members.  MMP members enhance their status within the gang by carrying out acts of violence against rivals; for instance, members can earn a “lightning bolt” tattoo for “killing for the Mob.” 

The 32-count second superseding indictment alleges that from at least 2011 through 2017, the defendants were members and associates of MMP who engaged in criminal activities in furtherance of the gang, including five murders, six attempted murders, assaults, abduction, witness tampering, and drug distribution resulting in nonfatal overdoses.  Tate admitted that he agreed with members of MMP to conduct and participate in the gang’s affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity that included offenses involving drug distribution.  He also agreed that it was reasonably foreseeable to him that between one and three kilograms of heroin and between 280 and 840 grams of cocaine base would be distributed by members of the conspiracy.

The following 13 defendants were charged in the superseding indictment unsealed on September 27, 2016, and charges remain pending against them in the second superseding indictment:

Dante Bailey, a/k/a “Gutta,” “Almighty,” and “Wolf,” age 37, of Windsor Mill, Maryland; Dontray Johnson, a/k/a “Gambino,” “Bino,” and “Tray,” age 31, of Windsor Mill; Adrian Jamal Spence, a/k/a “Spittle,” “SP,” and “AJ,” age 29, of Baltimore; Randy Banks, a/k/a “Dirt,” age 38, of Baltimore;Ayinde Deleon, a/k/a “Murda,” and “Yin,” age 31, of Baltimore; Jamal Lockley, a/k/a “T-Roy,” and “Droid,” age 37, of Baltimore; Jacob Bowling, a/k/a “Jakey,” “Ghost,” and “Fred,” age 30, of Gwynn Oak, Maryland; Corloyd Anderson, a/k/a “Bo,” age 33, of Owings Mills, Maryland; Devon Dent, a/k/a “Tech,” age 26, of Gwynn Oak; Tiffany Bailey, a/k/a “Tiff,” age 31, of Windsor Mill; Shakeen Davis, a/k/a “Creams,” age 22, of Baltimore; Sydni Frazier, a/k/a “Sid,” a/k/a “Perry,” age 26, of Baltimore; and Malcolm Lashley, a/k/a “Spook,” age 27, of Baltimore.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  Individuals charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings. 

In addition to Tate, the following 12 defendants have pleaded guilty to their participation in the racketeering conspiracy:

William Banks, a/k/a “Trouble,” age 27, of Baltimore; Dominick Wedlock, a/k/a “Rage,” and “Nick,” age 29, of Baltimore; Dwight Jenkins, a/k/a “Huggie,” and “Unc,” age 48, of Baltimore; Melvin Lashley, a/k/a “Menace,” age 26, of Baltimore; Maurice Pollock, a/k/a “Reese,” age 22, of Baltimore; Delante Lee, a/k/a “Tay Tay,” age 21, of Baltimore; William Jones, a/k/a “Bill,” and “Smalls,” age 27, of Baltimore; Jarmal Harrid, a/k/a “J-Rock,” and “PJ,” age 27, of Gwynn Oak; Jamal Smith, a/k/a “Mal,” and “Lil Mal,” age 25, of Gwynn Oak; Charles Blackwell, a/k/a “Ci-Bo,” and “Lil Charlie,” age 21, of Woodlawn; Kenneth Torry, a/k/a “Kenny,” age 39, of Owings Mills; Jay Greer, a/k/a “Champagne,” “Montana Gold,” and “Slick,” age 24, of Baltimore.

Tate and the government have agreed that if the Court accepts the plea agreement Tate will be sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release.  U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake has scheduled sentencing for June 19, 2018 at 9:15a.m.

Acting United States Attorney Stephen M. Schenning commended the ATF, Baltimore City and Baltimore County Police Departments, and the Baltimore City and Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Offices for their work in the investigation and prosecution. Mr. Schenning thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Christina A. Hoffman and Lauren E. Perry, who prosecuted the case.

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