Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Four Nashville Men Sentenced to More Than 75 Years Collectively, In Federal Prison for Reign of Violence in Public Housing Areas
Eight-Month Violent Crime Spree Included Multiple Shootings, Robberies & Two Dead
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – March 1, 2019 – Four Nashville men were sentenced this week, by Chief U.S. District Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw, Jr., to more than 75 years in federal prison, collectively, for their violent conduct during an 8-month violent crime spree in 2014-2015, announced U.S. Attorney Don Cochran for the Middle District of Tennessee.
Terrance Christopher Kimbrough, aka Lil Chris, aka Rampage, 22, was sentenced on Wednesday to 42 years in prison. He pleaded guilty in August 2018 to two counts of using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence resulting in death; Hobbs Act robbery; and other federal firearms offenses.
According to court documents, beginning in November 2014, Kimbrough was one of two individuals who robbed two men in the J.C. Napier area. During this robbery, the men targeted were ordered to strip and were then robbed of their clothing, drugs, money and identification.
On November 16, 2014, Kimbrough attempted to rob another individual, known to be a street-level drug dealer in the J.C. Napier area and shot the individual as he attempted to flee. Kimbrough chased the individual through the neighborhood and fired several rounds at him, causing him to seek treatment at a local hospital for gunshot wounds and other injuries sustained while fleeing.
On November 26, 2014, Kimbrough participated in the robbery of Brendon Leggs, at a market near the J.C. Napier area. During this robbery, Kimbrough and Calvin Starks approached Leggs as he sat in his car and demanded drugs and money. As Leggs attempted to drive away, Kimbrough and Starks fired a total of 18 rounds at Leggs, striking him twice and killing him. Calvin Starks was sentenced in August 2017 to 35 years in prison.
A week later, on December 3, 2014, Kimbrough and a juvenile shot and killed Monte Watson, near the intersection of Lewis and Robertson Streets, in the J.C. Napier area. Kimbrough was aware that Watson had witnessed him murder Leggs and had been searching for him in order to silence him.
On February 23, 2015, Kimbrough fired multiple rounds into the engine compartment of an occupied car, in the J.C. Napier neighborhood, because the driver refused to give him a ride.
Kimbrough also shot a member of the Bloods Gang on July 4, 2015, on Porter Road in Nashville and on July 17, 2015, Kimbrough participated in a shootout between two rival groups, in the J.C. Napier neighborhood. During this shootout, two women were stuck by gunfire and were treated for gunshot wounds at a hospital.
Ricky Watkins, 25, was also sentenced on Wednesday to 107 months in prison, for providing the .38 caliber revolver to the juvenile who participated with Kimbrough in the murder of Monte Watson and for helping Kimbrough rob the two men in November 2014. Watkins pleaded guilty to these charges in 2017
Michael Calloway, Jr., 24, was sentenced yesterday to 15 years in prison for being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition, charges which resulted from an incident on November 23, 2014, where he shot into a vehicle occupied by three adults and a young child in the J.C. Napier area. Calloway pleaded guilty in August 2018 and is currently serving a separate 15-year sentence resulting from federal charges relating to another shooting in the J.C. Napier neighborhood in April 2015.
Brandon Starks, 23, also sentenced yesterday received the statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition and providing Terrance Kimbrough with the gun and ammunition, which he used in the February 2015 shooting. While released on bond, Starks also committed an armed robbery of a U.S. Soldier stationed at Fort Campbell in July 2017. Starks pleaded guilty in February 2017.
A fifth man, Javonta Campbell, 25, was sentenced to five years’ probation, with a requirement that he complete 400 hours of community service focused on reaching youth in the JC Napier/South Nashville areas, and preventing those youth from participating in firearms and violent crimes such as those committed by all five of these defendants. Campbell pleaded guilty to participating in the November 2014 incident with Michael Calloway, where he shot into a vehicle occupied by three adults and a young child, and also participated in the February 2015 incident with Terrance Kimbrough, where Kimbrough shot multiples times into the engine compartment of an occupied car.
Over 50 defendants have been charged and convicted in a series of cases in an intensive, ongoing, effort to address violence in the J.C. Napier/Tony Sudekum and James Cayce public housing developments in South Nashville.
These cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sunny A.M. Koshy prosecuted the cases.