Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

COLUMBUS, Ohio – One of 19 defendants charged in a Columbus gang-related racketeering conspiracy pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today for his part in furthering the violence of the local Crips gang.

Jonathan Dantzler, 28, admitted to murdering a rival gang member and to shooting at a potential witness in 2012. He is one of 19 defendants charged in 2018 as part of the local gang T&A Crips.

T&A Crips derived its name from Trevitt and Atcheson streets in the King-Lincoln District of Columbus, where its members predominantly reside. T&A 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, the co-conspirators in this case 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 5th Avenue;
• the murder of Quincy Story on January 24, 2015; and
• the murder of Deaonte Fisher on March 4, 2016.

As part of his plea, Dantzler admitted to shooting Franky Tention in 2012. According to court documents, Dantzler shot at the victim because he was a member of the rival “Milo Bloods” gang and was driving into T&A territory in a “sign of disrespect.”

Dantzler also discharged a firearm into the residence of a potential witness to intimidate her from cooperating with law enforcement authorities.

Parties involved in Dantzler’s case have recommended a sentence of 30 years in prison. The defendant is currently serving multiple life sentences at the local level for separate murder convictions.

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Roland Herndon, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Columbus Interim Police Chief Michael Woods; and United States Marshal Pete Tobin announced the plea entered into today before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin W. Kelley and Noah R. Litton are representing the United States in this case.