The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas announced today the charging of 13 Houston residents involved in a violent criminal organization connected to robbery, drug trafficking, obstruction of justice, and murder.
The defendants, all residents of Houston, are facing serious charges, including robbery conspiracy and drug distribution conspiracy:
Derrick Dewayne Butler, 28
Travon Maxwel, 29
Emmanuel Winnfield, 36
Herman Mitchell, 37
Tyrone Raymond Bolton, 32
Joe Devon Champion (aka Champ), 35
Jonta Allen Glover, 32
Dewayne Donnell Champion, 37
Cedric Lynn Andrews, 50
Jermar Ballard Jones, 37
Christian Xavier Rucker, 30
Samuel Lamonte Draper, 25
Jeremy James Jenkins, 21
If convicted of robbery conspiracy, each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison. Additionally, all the accused face charges for attempting to possess controlled substances with the intent to distribute.
Butler, Rucker, and Jones face even more serious charges, including two counts of murder in aid of racketeering, firearm offenses, and causing death through the use of firearms. These men could face a mandatory life sentence or even the death penalty if convicted.
Several other defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to life imprisonment for possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. These charges were added due to the violent nature of the crimes and the role firearms played in their operations.
The indictment outlines a complex criminal network responsible for a series of violent activities in Houston. The organization allegedly committed a string of robberies and drug trafficking crimes, and in some cases, used firearms in drug-related violence.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasized that an indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
