Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A total of 10 of 19 Columbus men charged federally as being associated with a local Crips gang has pleaded guilty. The men were indicted in September 2018 and charged in a racketeering conspiracy that includes five murders, multiple attempted murders and other violent and drug-trafficking crimes.

Those who pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today include:

In January and February, Terrance Pyfrom, 21; Derrick Thornton, 29; Donovan Reed, 26; Andrew Harris, 30; and Dominique Bryant, 26, pleaded guilty.

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Roland Herndon, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Todd Wickerham, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, Interim Columbus Police Chief Tom Quinlan, United States Marshal Pete Tobin and Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien announced the pleas entered into before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson.

According to court documents, the defendants are members and associates of the Trevitt and Atcheson Crips gang known as T&A.

The gang derived its name from Trevitt and Atcheson streets in the King-Lincoln District of Columbus, where its members predominantly reside.

Beginning in June 2010, T&A members and associates conspired in a racketeering enterprise and engaged in murders, attempted murders, drug trafficking, firearms trafficking, witness tampering, robbery, assault and other crimes.

The gang controlled the neighborhood through intimidation, fear and violence. Gang members were expected to retaliate with acts of violence when their members and associates were disrespected, threatened, intimidated or subjected to acts of violence.

Specifically, co-conspirators are charged with five murders:

the murder of Franky Tention on July 1, 2012, in the area of 431 Ellison Street;

the murder of William Moore on March 15, 2013;

the murder of Marvin Ector on December 23, 2013, on East 5^th Avenue;

the murder of Quincy Story on January 24, 2015; and the murder of Deaonte Fisher on March 4, 2016.

T&A engaged in a long-term operation of consistent transportation of heroin and crack from Columbus to Portsmouth, Ohio, for sale in various “trap houses.” In the summer of 2015, T&A, under the leadership of Eric Henderson, Sr., began to deliver large amounts of heroin, crack, and oxycodone from Columbus to Portsmouth on a weekly basis.  Female associates and drug-addicted “mules” transported the drugs at the direction of T&A members and associates. The drugs were then sold on a daily basis out of a number of “trap houses” controlled by T&A members.

Henderson, Sr. pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit racketeering and conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin. He faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison. According to his plea agreement, Henderson, Sr. participated extensively in the planning and organizing of the Portsmouth drug operation by recruiting accomplices and co-conspirators to carry out the trafficking.

Eric Henderson, Jr. pleaded guilty to the racketeering conspiracy. He admitted that on numerous occasions he sold gram quantities of crack cocaine in Columbus and Chillicothe. A sentence of 78 months in prison has been recommended to the court, and Judge Watson will consider that recommendation at a future sentencing hearing.

Steve Henderson, Jr. also pleaded guilty to the racketeering conspiracy. According to his plea agreement, Steve Henderson shot and attempted to murder rival Milo Bloods gang members in June 2014.  He also opened fire on an individual after a dispute involving stolen narcotics in April 2015. All parties involved in Steve Henderson’s case have recommended a sentence of 240 months in prison for the court to consider.

As part of McCrae’s plea, he admitted to participating in the racketeering conspiracy (a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison) by selling narcotics as part of the Portsmouth drug operation and also opening fire during the April 2015 drug dispute.

Walton pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin, a crime punishable by 10 years up to life in prison. According to his plea agreement, he arranged for heroin addicts to transport cocaine and heroin from Columbus to Portsmouth. Walton also sold narcotics in Portsmouth and was personally responsible for distributing between 1,000 and 3,000 grams of heroin himself.

Others charged in this case include:

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by ATF, FBI and Columbus Police, as well as Assistant United States Attorneys David M. DeVillers, Kevin W. Kelley and Noah R. Litton, who are prosecuting the case.

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