Six Members of Violent D.C. Crew Convicted of Multiple Counts of Murder, Obstruction of Justice, Conspiracy, and Related Offenses

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Six members of the 22nd Street Crew, Lannell Cooper, 29, Michael Tann, 31, Antonio Arnette, 28, James Rushing, 29, Dajuan Beaver, 26, and Saquawn Harris, 33, have been found guilty of multiple counts of first and second-degree murder while armed, conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and related offenses, Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips announced today.

The convictions stem from a reign of terror imposed by these six men, along with other members of the 22nd Street Crew, over a three block area of 22nd Street, SE, between April 2003 and July 2006. The members of the 22nd Street Crew were bound together by varied purposes, including drug trafficking, engaging in acts of violence in order to retaliate against rival groups and to protect their “turf,” and engaging in acts of obstruction of justice.

The entire community was victimized by the actions of the members of this Crew, who were responsible for the murder of Leslie Jones on April 11, 2003, the murder of Terrence Jones and assault on Richard Queen on April 17, 2004, the murder of James Taylor and assault on Bernard Mackey on May 4, 2006, and the murder of Laquanda Johnson and assault on Keisha Frost on July 11, 2006. These victims included an innocent bystander, who happened to be near a playground when multiple members of the Crew opened fire on an outsider, and a young woman who was murdered, in part, because she refused to silence her sister, who had testified as a government witness in a murder trial against Lannell Cooper.

All of the defendants will be sentenced by the Honorable Henry F. Greene in October 2009, at which time they face sentences of over 75 years of imprisonment to life.

In announcing the jury’s verdict, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips praised the outstanding efforts of members of the law enforcement community. Over 50 members of the Metropolitan Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Park Police worked tirelessly in their coordinated efforts to bring about this verdict. However, without the dedication and perseverance of Metropolitan Police Department Detectives Susan Blue and Jeffrey Mayberry, FBI Special Agent Catherine Hanna, and U.S. Park Police Detectives William Sepeck and Irving Edwards, who devoted over three years to this investigation, these verdicts would not have been possible.

Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips also commended the efforts of all at the U.S. Attorney’s Office who assisted in bringing about this successful conclusion. The number of employees who are responsible for obtaining these verdicts are far too numerous to mention. This was, in all respects, a collaborative effort on the part of many in the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Finally, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips praised the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Bach, Michael Brittin, Amanda Haines, Nancy Jackson, Todd Gee, and Sean Tonolli who investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Bach, John Giovannelli, and Sean Tonolli who tried the case.

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