Not sure what went down with this indictment but it does come as a surprise to me, and I suspect to others who know Clemmie Greenlee and her commitment to assisting the poor, the homeless and the young men and women of Nashville.
It's hard for me to believe Clemmie's organization is involved in gang activities, given that her own son was murdered some years ago as a result of gang involvement.
26 Alleged Gang Members Indicted On Federal Charges
Posted: Jun 24, 2010 11:57 AM CDTUpdated: Jun 24, 2010 6:35 PM CDT
by Nicole Ferguson
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A federal indictment has provided more details on how a Nashville non-profit known for rehabilitating gang members and drug addicts was actually wrapped up in gang activity.
On Thursday morning, federal and Metro investigators released the newly unsealed indictment detailing a gang roundup, focused on two different groups within the Bloods gang. Twenty-six men, either gang members or affiliates, are indicted with charges ranging from conspiracy to commit murder to racketeering.
Twenty-one of them, some well-known Nashville gang members, have been arrested. Investigators are still looking for five others.
- Lonnie Newsome, aka "Big Lonnie," age 24;
- Ricky Williams, aka "Big Rick," age 24;
- William Bartlett, aka "FaceMob," age 27;
- Tim Allen, aka "Lil Tim," age 20;
- Anthony Brooks, aka "A.B.," age 23;
- Anthony Lampkins, aka "Doo Daddy," age 21;
- Antonio Washington, aka "T.O.," age 21;
- Kerry Pettus, aka "Lil Kerry," age 21;
- Joedon Bradley, aka "Jo Jo," age 22;
- Deshaune Jones, aka "Mexico," age 21;
- Donald Dowell, aka "D-Dow," age 23;
- Alonzo McLaurine, aka "Zo," age 20;
- Aaron Gooch, aka "A-Ron," age age 21;
- Jermaine Tate, aka "Maine Maine," age 21;
- Shayne Gibson, aka "Alief," age 18;
- Alexander McDonald, aka "Dominique," age 20;
- Jermaine Coward, aka "Maine Maine," age 19;
- Jeffrey Albea, aka "Lil Jeff," age 18;
- Torey Cohen Boseman, aka "Torey," age 24;
- Karlos Taylor, aka "Los," age 19;
- Anthony Campbell, aka "Dante," age 20;
- James House, aka "Bam," age 37;
- Rodney Britton, age 22; and
- Lonnie Greenlee, age 51.
"We don't care what color you represent. We don't care what gang you affiliate yourself with, if you choose to rob, rape, shoot or murder our innocent men, women and children, then be prepared to spend the rest of your life in prison," said ATF assistant special agent in charge, Steven Gerido.
Lonnie Greenlee, the co-founder of Galaxy Star Drug Awareness, was among those named in the indictment. Greenlee and his sister, Clemmie Greenlee, founded the non-profit a decade ago after Clemmie's only son was gunned down in a Metro gang shootout.
Around 6 a.m. Wednesday, the ATF, Metro, Gallatin police and U.S. Marshal's raided the Greenlee's Carter Avenue home. They seized files containing community service records for about 200 gang members and other people Galaxy Star helps. The agents also seized the hard drives containing information dealing with the non-profit. Clemmie Greenlee said the Galaxy Star community center on Lischey Avenue was also raided before the investigators headed to her home.
"We ain't got nothin' to hide. I don't know what this is about," said a teary Greenlee during an exclusive interview on Wednesday, just hours after the raid. "I don't know nothin'. My brother don't know nothin.' Nobody in this house know nothin' other than we just help gangs. We don't affiliate with gangs, (or) initiate gangs."
Investigators arrested Lonnie Greenlee during the raid. They also went looking for Rodney Britton, a Galaxy Star employee known to speak out against violence immediately following local shootouts.
The indictment detailed how Lonnie Greenlee and Britton worked together to falsify court-ordered community service hours for gang members. It said they agreed to split money they received from those gang members in exchange for the forgery.
The indictment also claims Lonnie Greenlee allowed his son, Lonnie Newsome, to facilitate gang activity at the Galaxy Star community center, often referred to as "the spot" in court documents. Newsome is being indicted on many charges including conspiracy to commit murder. The indictment details how he and several other gang members planned to kill Kenny Ellis.
The failed attempt at the corner of Clifton Avenue and 28th Avenue North ended in an officer involved shooting on March 30.
That day Britton spoke out against the violence as a representative of Galaxy Star.
"If we don't stand up and make some solutions - more of our black kids are going to be dying, more of our youth are going to be dying," he told NewsChannel 5. "People's innocent lives are going to be at stake."
As of Thursday morning, investigators were still trying to arrest five of the 26 men named in the indictment, including Britton.
Galaxy Star released a statement concerning the indictment. It can be read here.
Email: nferguson@newschannel5.com
