Two Gang Members from Hollygrove Area Sentenced on Federal RICO, Drug, and Firearms Charges

Tyronne Stevenson aka “Duke," 23, and Mark Glenn, 26, both residents of New Orleans, were sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stanwood R. Duval, Jr. for violating federal RICO, drug conspiracy, firearms conspiracy, and attempted murder charges, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Allen Polite, Jr. Both Stevenson and Glenn were members of a gang from the Hollygrove area of the city involved in several shootings and murders in recent years. To date, all the indicted members of this gang have pled guilty. The remaining gang members are awaiting sentencing.

During their previous guilty pleas, both Stevenson and Glenn admitted that they and the other gang members were street-level dealers of crack cocaine. Stevenson also pled guilty to the attempted murder of rival drug dealers Jamal Garner and Demarco Henderson that took place on March 17, 2009. During this shooting, an 8-year-old boy was also wounded by gunfire. Additionally, Stevenson pled guilty to the attempted murder of rival drug dealer Glin Butler that took place on April 10, 2009. Glenn also pled guilty to a subsequent attempted murder of Glin Butler that took place on June 13, 2010. Based on this conduct Stevenson was sentenced to serve 30 years in prison, and Glenn was sentenced to serve 25 years in prison.

A 34-count second superseding indictment was returned on November 16, 2012, charging Walter Conley, aka “Ike Neezy"; Tyronne Stevenson; Theron Golston, aka “Thema”; Bernell Williams aka “Bussy," aka “A-Boogie"; Norman Ratcliff, aka “Turk”; and Mark Glenn with participating in a RICO conspiracy, drug conspiracy, firearms conspiracy, and several substantive acts of violence.

Co-defendant Ryan Carroll, aka “Ronnie Boo,” pled guilty to participating in the RICO conspiracy and to discharging a firearm during a drug trafficking crime and a crime of violence. On October 16, 2013, he was sentenced to serve 210 months in federal prison.

Co-defendants Carey Jones, Bernell Williams, and China Stewart also pled guilty to various charges in the indictment and are scheduled to be sentenced on January 22, 2014.

Co-defendants Walter Conley and Norman Ratcliff also pled guilty to various charges in the indictment, including murder, and are scheduled to be sentenced on February 26, 2014.

“These two defendants were responsible for terrorizing the Hollygrove area by using shootings and even murder to protect their illegal drug trafficking enterprise,” stated U.S. Attorney Polite. “The lengthy sentences imposed today are reflective of the fact that our community is making every effort to remove these violent offenders from our streets.”

Mr. Polite thanked the federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) who took the lead role in this investigation and who have been steadfast in their resolve to bring these violent offenders to justice. He also thanked the other members of the MAG Unit who worked on this case and renewed the USAO’s commitment to assist the MAG Unit in targeting these types of violent offenders.

The Multi-Agency Gang Unit is an NOPD-led division that includes federal agents from ATF, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Marshals Service, as well as participants from the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Louisiana State Police, State Probation and Parole, and the New Orleans District Attorney’s Office.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maurice E. Landrieu, Jr.