Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Columbus Gang Members Pleads Guilty to Rackteering, Takes Responsibility for 2 Murders
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Lance Reynolds, 33, of Columbus, Ohio pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court 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, he took responsibility for two previously unsolved murders: the deaths of Quincy Battle on March 24, 2010 in Columbus and Shane McCuen on March 11, 2008 in Zanesville.
Reynolds was originally one of three defendants scheduled for a third trial in this case, which is to begin on September 26. DeShawn Smith and Johnathan Holt remain scheduled for trial.
Reynolds’ plea contains a recommended sentencing range of 30 to 35 years in prison.
Benjamin C. Glassman, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Timothy J. Plancon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Brad Earman, Acting 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 plea entered into today before U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley.
A total of 20 individuals were indicted in the racketeering case with charges that included murders, attempted murders, drug trafficking, weapons offenses, witness tampering, extortion and robbery.
A United States District Court jury convicted five co-defendants of racketeering and murder in June. After a two-month trial, the group of defendants was convicted on all counts, which accounted for 10 of 14 previously unsolved murders. Defendants previously scheduled for a second trial have pleaded guilty to racketeering charges.
Acting U.S. Attorney Glassman 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, 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 of Franklin County Prosecutor O’Brien’s Office, who are prosecuting the case.