Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Robert Wilson III, 27, of Columbus, Ohio, pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy in connection with a case involving the organized criminal enterprise known as the Short North Posse.

As part of his plea, Wilson is taking responsibility for three previously unsolved murders. He is also admitting his involvement in a fourth murder to which already pled guilty in state court. The three previously unsolved murders include the death of Donathan Moon on April 16, 2007, Rodriccos Williams on November 3, 2007 and Tyrell Davis on April 25, 2008.

Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), David A. Grant, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Donald J. Sorrano, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien, and Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs, announced the guilty plea entered into today before U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley.

Wilson was charged by a superseding indictment in October 2014. A total of 20 individuals were indicted in the racketeering case, with charges that include murders, attempted murders, drug trafficking, weapons offenses, extortion and robbery.

The parties involved have agreed to a sentencing range of 30 to 45 years in prison, which will be determined by the court at a sentencing hearing.

U.S. Attorney Stewart commended the two-year long investigation by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, DEA, ATF, Columbus Police, Franklin County Sheriff Zach Scott’s Office, Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien’s Office, Fairfield County Prosecutor Gregg Marx, Licking County Prosecutor Kenneth Oswalt, Muskingum County Prosecutor D. Michael Haddox, Ross County Prosecutor Matthew S. Schmidt, law enforcement leaders from those counties, and officials of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorneys David DeVillers, Kevin Kelley and Brian Martinez and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jimmy Lowe with Franklin County Prosecutor O’Brien’s Office, who are prosecuting the case.

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