Reported / Citable
HOUSTON – A federal grand jury has indicted six alleged YNS gang members and affiliates, while 10 other face charges in federal criminal complaints.
A total of 16 alleged gang members and affiliates face charges of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
Jocquez Frye, 18; Darrell Sampson, 18; Jacob Barrett, 18; Kristian Winters, 18; Jaquan McClendon, 19; Triwayne Davison, 20; Donfarius Holmes, 24; Haven Duncan, 29; Jason Pittman, 34; Ledanyan Bennett, 19; Alex Davison, 32; Monterio Whitfield, 30; William Nolan-Waddell, 34; Javonte Hoyle, 28; Will Clark, 28; and Xzaveon Francis, 28, all of Houston, have made their initial appearances in federal court.
Frye, Sampson, Barrett, Winters, McClendon, and Triwayne Davison appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Palermo Sept. 28. The court ordered them to remain in custody pending further criminal proceedings.
During the detention hearing, the court heard that YNS is a violent gang operating in Houston’s Greenspoint area and allegedly involved in homicides, assaults, home invasions, vehicle burglaries, and drug and firearms trafficking. The court also heard that authorities linked Frye to the Jan. 4 armed carjacking of a former Houston Texans player at his home.
The court reviewed social media posts and videos depicting alleged YNS members displaying firearms equipped with machinegun conversion devices, assaulting a rival gang member, and intimidating rivals outside their residences. The court also heard that the weapons posed a danger to innocent bystanders and that the alleged activities could provoke retaliatory violence in the Greenspoint area.
Social media posts and messages introduced into evidence allegedly showed members discussing past and planned violent crimes, firearms trafficking, and threats against rival gangs and groups.
The court also heard that YNS members allegedly planned to rob what they believed was a drug stash house containing 42 kilograms of cocaine. On July 23, several members met with a confidential informant before traveling to the location carrying firearms and wearing black clothing, masks, and gloves, according to the allegations.
Sampson, Barrett, and Winters allegedly planned a separate armed robbery at the time of their Sept. 23 arrests. The three allegedly intended to rob an individual at gunpoint following what they believed would be a large-scale cocaine transaction.
Holmes, Duncan, Pittman, Bennett, Alex Davison, Whitfield, Nolan-Waddell, Hoyle, Clark and Francis appeared before Judge Palermo for detention hearings Sept. 29-30.
During those hearings, the court heard that the defendants allegedly conspired to transport what they believed was 50 kilograms of cocaine to a buyer before robbing the individual following the delivery. At the time of their arrests, authorities discovered firearms, zip ties, and gloves in their possession.
If convicted, all 16 YNS members face up to life in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
FBI Houston and the Houston Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Texas Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and U.S. Marshals Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sebastian Edwards and Samuel Blackington are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office — Southern District of Texas — U.S. Department of Justice press release.