Grand Jury Superseding Indictment Alleges Drug Charges Against Top Members of the 107 Hoover Crips

TULSA, OK—United States Attorney Danny C. Williams, Sr. announced that four men have been charged in a superseding indictment returned today by a federal grand jury in Tulsa. The superseding indictment is the result of a two-year investigation conducted by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) into the 107 Hoover Crips street gang and its criminal activities of drug dealing, extortion, and violence, including shootings.

Lorell Antonio Battle, 30; Paul Edward Battle, 31; Thomas Layeffetta Jackson, 27; and Gaywone Dekeith Blades, 18, all of Tulsa, are charged with conspiring to distribute cocaine base, commonly known as “crack” cocaine. Lorell Battle and Gaywone Blades are also accused of possessing firearms in furtherance of their drug trafficking and maintaining apartments in the 61st Street and Peoria Avenue area of Tulsa to distribute, store, and use cocaine base in other charges of the 11-count superseding indictment.

U.S. Attorney Williams and Chief of Police Chuck Jordan emphasized the need for continuing the combined efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in fighting the drug trafficking and violent gang activities in the 61st Street and Peoria Avenue neighborhood. U.S. Attorney Williams stated that a strong partnership of Tulsa’s law enforcement agencies will result in a better community for all residents. The charges resulted from an investigation of the Tulsa Police Department’s Special Investigations Division assisted by the DEA, the FBI, and the Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Robert T. Raley, Allen J. Litchfield, and Catherine Depew are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

A grand jury indictment is one method of charging a defendant with alleged violations of federal law and must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendants’ presumption of innocence.