MARYLAND
A federal judge sentenced two Baltimore men Monday to life and 30 years, respectively, in prison for conspiring to participate in a drug distribution conspiracy and a violent racketeering enterprise known as Trained To Go or TTG, according to authorities.
The racketeering conspiracy included eight murders, as well as drug trafficking and witness intimidation, officials said.
John Harrison, aka Binkie, 28, and Linton Broughton, aka Marty, 25; both of Baltimore, were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake to serve life in prison, and 360 months in prison, respectively, each followed by five years of supervised release.
Broughton, Harrison and their co-defendants were also convicted of a drug distribution conspiracy involving heroin, marijuana, and cocaine, according to officials.
Harrison participated in the murder of five individuals and a firearm recovered from Broughton was found to be used in four of those murders.
“Violent gang members must know that gun crime leads to federal time,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “As this case demonstrates, all too often, guns and drugs go hand in hand—and both are killers. Thanks to the partnership between federal, state, and local law enforcement, these drug dealers will no longer peddle death in West Baltimore. Harrison, Broughton and their TTG co-defendants will be removed from the community they terrorized and serve their sentences in federal prison, where there is no parole – ever.”
According to the evidence presented at their 24-day trial, Broughton, Harrison and their co-defendants are all members of TTG, a criminal organization that operated in the Sandtown neighborhood of West Baltimore, whose members engaged in drug distribution and acts of violence including murder, armed robbery, and witness intimidation, officials stated.
As part of the conspiracy, each defendant agreed that a conspirator would commit at least two acts of racketeering activity for TTG.
The evidence at trial showed that members and associates of TTG sold heroin, cocaine, and marijuana, and worked to defend their exclusive right to control who sold narcotics in TTG territory.
The evidence showed the Broughton was one of TTG’s primary distributors of heroin and marijuana. Broughton distributed the drugs from multiple locations in Sandtown.
In addition, the evidence proved that between May 20, 2010 and Jan. 9, 2017, Broughton, Harrison, their co-defendants, and other members of TTG committed acts of violence, including eight murders, shootings, armed robbery, and witness intimidation.
Murders were committed in retaliation for individuals robbing TTG members of drugs and drug proceeds, or while TTG members robbed others of their drugs and drug proceeds, as well as in murder-for-hire schemes.
Harrison was found to have participated in the murder of three people on July 7, 2015, as well as two other murders.
A gun that Broughton had hidden was recovered on Jan. 28, 2016, was determined to have been used in the murders on July 7, 2015, as well as another murder committed by Harrison, according to officials.
Further, the defendants engaged in witness intimidation through violence or threats of violence, to prevent individuals from cooperating with law enforcement.
The leader of the gang, Montana Barronette, aka Tana and Tanner, 23, of Baltimore, was sentenced to serve life in prison on Feb. 15.
Co-defendant Brandon Wilson, aka Ali, 24, also of Baltimore, was sentenced to serve 25 years in prison on March 1, 2019.
The remaining defendants convicted at the trial are all from Baltimore and face a maximum sentence of life in prison on the racketeering and drug conspiracies.
They include Terrell Sivells, aka Rell, 27; Taurus Tillman, aka Tash, 29; Dennis Pulley, aka Denmo, 31; and Timothy Floyd, aka Tim Rod, 28.
The defendants remain detained.
Three other TTG members previously pleaded guilty and were sentenced to between five and 25 years in prison. Another defendant, Roger Taylor, aka Milk, is a fugitive.
Harrison is still facing charges for allegedly assaulting employees of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) while he was detained and being transported to and from the courtroom during their trial.
According to the indictment, on Sept. 21, 2018, Harrison and a co-defendant assaulted two Deputy U.S. Marshals and a U.S. District Court Security Officer as they were being escorted from the courtroom during a break in the trial.
The charges in an indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The U.S. Marshals Service is investigating the case.