Gang members sentenced to life in prison for violating RICO and Hobbs Acts

WACO, Texas (KWTX) - Two temple men were sentenced to life in prison on Sept. 23 for violations of the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO) Ace ant the Hobbs Act after being found guilty in February, a police report claims.

According to court documents, Atorius "Lil Man" Marquis Williams, 27, and Trashawn "Mad Max" Lamar Alexander, 30, were said to be members of the criminal organization Killas With Aggression (KWA). The organization would affect interstate and foreign commerce with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to rob persons engaged in the distribution of controlled substances.

According to the police report, Williams and Alexander alongside codefendant Demonta "Tado" "Tato" Daniels conspired to commit numerous crimes, including four murders, multiple violent assaults, extortion, drug trafficking and armed robberies.

The indictment alleges there were four instances where the trio would display homicidal ideations: the first instance occurred on Sept. 30, 2017, involving Williams in Belton; the second instance occurred on Dec. 10, 2017, involving Williams and Alexander in Temple; the third instance occurred on Jan. 16, 2018, involving Williams and Daniels in Temple; and the fourth instance occurred on Jan. 31, 2018, involving Williams, Alexander and Daniels in Temple.

The defendants were also charged with conspiracy to affect commerce by robbery, committing acts of physical violence and threatening to commit acts of violence to steal controlled substances and proceeds from persons engaged in illegal drug distribution. They were also allegedly convicted of brandishing a firearm during a robbery.

Alexander alone was convicted of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, the press release states.

Williams and Alexander were each sentenced to life in prison on three counts and a concurrent 20 years in prison for an additional three counts. Daniels will be sentenced on a later date.

According to the press release, seven codefendants in the case have previously been sentenced: Dominic Johnson was sentenced to 70 months in January 2023 for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine; Desmond Wilkerson was sentenced to 71 months in September 2023 for racketeering conspiracy; James Roy Whitfield Jr. was sentenced to 102 months on Feb. 13 on one count of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of aiding and abetting; Jason Mayse was also sentenced on Feb. 13 for 40 months for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana; Jyaraciel Whitfield was sentenced to 144 months for one count of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of aiding and abetting; Christopher Meyers was sentenced to 144 months in August 2022 for racketeering conspiracy; and Reginald Williams was sentenced to 96 months in September 2023 on one count of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of aiding and abetting.

Multiple agencies worked together in the investigation of this case, as listed as follows: the FBI, Temple Police Department, Belton Police Department, Bell County Organized Crime Unit, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Cameron Police Department, Hearne Police Department, Killeen Police Department and Bell County Sheriff's Office.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make neighborhoods safer for everyone. The program was launched on May 26, 2021, with the following core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results.