Oakland Crew Charged in RICO Indictment Involving String of Armed Robberies, Home Invasions, and Credit Card Conspiracy
| U.S. Attorney’s Office March 20, 2014 |
OAKLAND—The grand jury returned a 21-count superseding indictment on Tuesday, March 18, 2014, against seven people for their participation in a case involving a spree of armed robberies of commercial businesses in and around the Bay Area and the subsequent attempted cover-up of those robberies, announced United States Attorney Melinda Haag, FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Johnson, and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Special Agent in Charge José M. Martinez.
According to the Indictment, The “Landry Crew” is an enterprise based in Oakland, California. It is affiliated with the larger “Money Team” gang that also operates in and around Oakland, as well as with other groups. The Landry Crew’s members operate in the greater bay area including Richmond, Antioch, Vallejo, Fairfield, the North Bay, the East Bay, the Peninsula, and Sacramento.
Beginning at the latest in 2012, The Landry Crew allegedly engaged in numerous armed robberies of Rite Aid, Safe Way, and Walmart stores, during which they brandished firearms and stole cash, checks, and merchandise while the store was full of customers. They also engaged in armed home invasion-style robberies, credit card fraud, identity theft, as well as obstruction of justice. Much of the stolen merchandise was sold to third parties, or “fences.”
The indictment further alleges that the Landry Crew broadcast and boasted about their criminal activities on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Members of the crew took pictures of themselves in the aftermath of their crimes, literally rolling around in large amounts of cash and stolen items. They also documented themselves on spending sprees with the proceeds from their robberies. The group is notable for its use of female accomplices, who transported members of the group to the scene of crimes, held and concealed evidence, stole credit cards and identities, and rented or stole vehicles in which to commit crimes.
The Indictment alleges that following his arrest, the group’s ringleader, Melvin Landry, Jr., offered cash and goods to FBI agents if they would allow him to escape.
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Defendant |
Charges |
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Melvin Landry Jr., a/k/a “New Hefner,” 22, of Oakland |
Racketeering, Racketeering Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Commit Robbery Affecting Interstate Commerce, Robbery Affecting Interstate Commerce (Five Counts), Use/Possession of Firearm During and in Relation to Crime of Violence (Five Counts), Money Laundering, Attempting to Bribe a Federal Official, and Obstruction of Justice |
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Dominique Marquis Martin, a/k/a “Domo,” 23, of Oakland |
Racketeering, Racketeering Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Commit Robbery Affecting Interstate Commerce, Robbery Affecting Interstate Commerce (Four Counts), Use/Possession of Firearm During and in Relation to Crime of Violence (Four Counts), and Money Laundering |
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Rudolpho Antoine James, a/k/a “Youngnrichdolpho,” 20, of Vallejo |
Racketeering, Racketeering Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Commit Robbery Affecting Interstate Commerce, Robbery Affecting Interstate Commerce (Two Counts), Use/Possession of Firearm During and in Relation to Crime of Violence (Two Counts), Access Device Fraud (Two Counts), and Access Device Making Equipment |
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Eric Carlisle, a/k/a “Pimpinassero,” 24, of Berkeley |
Racketeering, Racketeering Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Commit Robbery Affecting Interstate Commerce, Robbery Affecting Interstate Commerce (One Count), and Use/Possession of Firearm During and in Relation to Crime of Violence (One Counts) |
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Veante Williams, a/k/a “V,” 22, of Oakland |
Obstruction of Justice |
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Desier Williams, 20, of Oakland |
Access Device Fraud |
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Reina Rodriguez, 23, of Vallejo |
Access Device Fraud and Possession of Accessing Device Making Equipment |
The maximum statutory penalty for racketeering and racketeering conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Section 1962(c) and 1962(d), are life imprisonment, maximum fine of the greatest of either $250,000 or twice the gross pecuniary gain to the defendant or twice the gross pecuniary gain loss inflicted on another.
The maximum statutory penalties for Hobbs Act robbery and conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Section 1951(a), and for obstruction of justice, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Section 1512(c)(1), is 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
The maximum statutory penalty for use/possession of a firearm in furtherance of the Hobbs Act robbery, a crime of violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Section 924(c), is life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, but carries a mandatory minimum consecutive prison term of seven years for the first Section 924(c) conviction if the firearm was brandished, and a 25-year mandatory minimum consecutive term in prison for each second or successive 924(c) conviction.
The maximum statutory penalty for money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Section 1956(a)(1)(b)(i), is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $500,000 fine, or twice the value of the property involved in the transactions.
The maximum statutory penalty for attempting to bribe a federal official, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Section 201(b), is 15 years’ imprisonment, and a $250,000 fine. The maximum statutory penalty for access device fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. section 1029(a)(1) & (2), is 10 years’ imprisonment, and a $250,000 fine or twice the gross pecuniary gain or loss from the offense.
The maximum statutory penalty for access device making equipment, in violation of 18 U.S.C. section 1029(a)(4) & (2) is 15 years’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross pecuniary gain or loss from the offense.
However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Please note, indictments and complaints contain only allegations and, as with all defendants, the defendants named herein must be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Kathryn Haun and Kimberly Hopkins are the Assistant United States Attorneys who are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Kevin Costello and Daniel Charlier-Smith, and with Assistant United States Attorney Olusere Olowoyeye of the Eastern District of California. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, the California Highway Patrol, the Fremont Police Department, the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department, the Alameda County DA’s Office, the San Leandro Police Department, the San Mateo Police Department, the San Mateo District Attorney’s Office, the Oakland Police Department, the Pinole Police Department, the San Rafael Police Department, the Antioch Police Department, the Richmond Police Department, the Vallejo Police Department, and the Sacramento Police Department.