|
SAN FRANCISCO – United States Attorney Joseph P. Russoniello announced that Aquil Peterson was sentenced yesterday to 22 years in prison, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment for the first degree murder of Joseph Hearns in aid of a Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO) known as the “Page Street Mob.” This sentence is the result of an investigation by the FBI.
Mr. Peterson is the fifth of five Page Street Mob defendants who were formerly facing trial in January 2008 to be sentenced since they pleaded guilty earlier this year. The sentences are summarized as follows:
- Aquil H. Peterson, a/k/a “Quil,” pleaded guilty on January 29, 2008 to a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1959, violent crime in aid of racketeering. According to the plea agreement, Mr. Peterson admitted that on or about August 23, 2002, he armed himself with an AK-47. He then participated in kidnaping, beating, and stripping naked the victim, Joseph Hearns. Mr. Hearns was then dragged out of a residence to a sidewalk in the Sunnydale Housing Development where he was executed by one gunshot to the head. Mr. Peterson further admitted that he aided and abetted the murder of Mr. Hearns for the purpose of maintaining and increasing his position in Page Street Mob, of which he was a member at the time.
- Mr. Peterson, 24, of San Francisco, is currently in custody serving his prison term. The 22-year sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Maxine M. Chesney following Mr. Peterson’s guilty plea to a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1959, violent crime in aid of racketeering. Judge Chesney also sentenced the defendant to a five year period of supervised release.
- Raymon D. Hill, Jr., a/k/a “Money Ray,” was sentenced on May 21, 2008 to 17 years in prison for conspiring to participate in Page Street Mob, a racketeer influenced corrupt organization, by conspiring to murder Travis Trammell to assist the Page Street Mob. He pleaded guilty to that charge on February 5, 2008. According to the plea agreement, Mr. Hill admitted that between 1994 and 2005, he engaged in behavior that he knew benefitted the Page Street Mob. Specifically, Mr. Hill admitted that between approximately August 23, 2004 and August 26, 2004, he agreed with other Page Street Mob members to murder Travis Trammell in retaliation for the murder of Eugene Hill, a Page Street Mob member, knowing that such a retaliatory murder would benefit the standing of Page Street Mob. Mr. Hill, who was in federal custody at the time, admitted that he knew that other individuals armed themselves with firearms as part of the agreement to kill Travis Trammell.
- Mr. Hill, 32, of San Francisco, is currently in custody serving his prison term. The 17 year sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Maxine M. Chesney following Mr. Hill’s guilty plea to a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1962, conspiracy to participate in a racketeer influenced corrupt organization. Judge Chesney also sentenced the defendant to a three year period of supervised release.
- Lester Wayne Hogan, a/k/a “Styles,” was sentenced on April 16, 2008 to 12 years in prison for attempting to murder Terrell Trammell in aid of the Page Street Mob after pleading guilty to that charge on January 29, 2008. According to the plea agreement, Mr. Hogan admitted that on or about September 29, 2001, after having previously armed himself with a firearm, he approached a vehicle parked in front of 360 Haight Street, San Francisco, California. Mr. Trammell was in the driver’s seat of the vehicle, and Mr. Hogan fired the weapon multiple times through the windshield of the car striking Mr. Trammell a number of times, causing serious bodily injury as a result. Mr. Hogan admitted that he shot Mr. Trammell for the purpose of maintaining and increasing his position in the Page Street Mob, of which he was a member at that time.
- Mr. Hogan, 28, of San Francisco, is currently in custody serving his prison term. The 12 year sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Maxine M. Chesney following Mr. Hogan’s guilty plea to a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1959, violent crime in aid of racketeering. Judge Chesney also sentenced the defendant to a three year period of supervised release.
- Steven Wilson, a/k/a “Wolf” a/k/a “Solo,” was sentenced on April 23, 2008 to 11 years in prison for conspiring to participate in Page Street Mob, a racketeer influenced corrupt organization, by conspiring to murder Mark Banks to assist the Page Street Mob. He pleaded guilty to that charge on January 29, 2008. According to the plea agreement, Mr. Wilson admitted that between approximately 1994 and 2005, he associated with Page Street Mob, knowing that the gang’s activities included acts of violence and frequent narcotics dealing, including the distribution of cocaine base in the form of “crack.” He also admitted that he engaged in behavior that benefitted the Page Street Mob. Specifically, Mr. Wilson admitted that on or about February 6, 1998, he armed myself with a machine gun and secured a hat, ski mask, and glove intending to kill Mark Banks. He took those items with him and stole a car, then drove to the vicinity of 1247 Egbert Street, San Francisco, California, where he believed he could find Mark Banks, and waited in the car with the intent to kill Mr. Banks when he emerged from that address. However, Mr. Wilson fell asleep and was awoken by San Francisco Police Officers who arrested him before any violence could occur. Mr. Wilson admitted that he knew that killing Mr. Banks would benefit Page Street Mob because he was a associated with a rival gang.
- Mr. Wilson, 28, of San Francisco, is currently in custody serving his prison term. The 11 year sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Maxine M. Chesney following Mr. Wilson’s guilty plea to a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1962, conspiracy to participate in a racketeer influenced corrupt organization. Judge Chesney also sentenced the defendant to a three year period of supervised release.
- Mister Meilleur, a/k/a “Mister,” was sentenced on April 16, 2008 to 7 years in prison for possessing “crack” cocaine near a school, playground, and housing complex with intent to distribute the drugs. He pleaded guilty to that charge on January 29, 2008. According to the plea agreement, Mr. Meilleur admitted that on or about August 9, 2002, he knowingly kept approximately 4 grams of cocaine base in the form of “crack” at 415 Page Street in San Francisco, California intending to sell and distribute it to other individuals. He also admitted that on or about May 8, 1996, he knowingly possessed approximately 30 grams of cocaine base in the form of “crack” on his person in front of 374 Haight Street in San Francisco, California intending to sell and distribute it to other individuals. Mr. Meilleur admitted that both of the aforementioned locations were within 1,000 feet of a public elementary school, a public housing facility, and a playground.
- Mr. Meilleur, 31, of San Francisco, is currently in custody serving his prison term. The 7 year sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Maxine M. Chesney following Mr. Meilleur’s guilty plea to a violation of 21 U.S.C. § 860, possession for distribution of cocaine base in the form of crack within 1,000 feet of a public elementary school, public housing facility, or playground. Judge Chesney also sentenced the defendant to a six year term of supervised release. It should be noted that Mr. Meilleur was not alleged to have personally committed any violent acts arising from his associated with the Page Street Mob.
William Frentzen and Robert David Rees are the Assistant U.S. Attorneys who are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Amelia Morgan and Christine Tian. The prosecution is the result of a three year investigation by the FBI.
Further Information:
Case #: CR 05-0324 MMC
A copy of this press release may be found on the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s website at www.usdoj.gov/usao/can.
Electronic court filings and further procedural and docket information are available at https://ecf.cand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.p.l
Judges’ calendars with schedules for upcoming court hearings can be viewed on the court’s website at www.cand.uscourts.gov.
All press inquiries to the U.S. Attorney’s Office should be directed to Joshua Eaton at (415) 436-6958 or by email at Josh.Eaton@usdoj.gov.
|