Deshawn M. Smith, Racketeering Conspiracy, Ohio 2022
COLUMBUS, Ohio - A Columbus gang member pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy in connection with a case involving the organized criminal enterprise known as the Short North Posse.
Deshawn M. Smith, 29, of Columbus, Ohio pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to one count of racketeering conspiracy.
As part of his plea, he took responsibility for one previously unsolved murder, Shane McCuen on March 11, 2008 in Zanesville.
Smith’s plea contains a sentencing range of at least 30 and up to 35 years in prison.
A total of 20 individuals were indicted in the racketeering case with charges that included murders, attempted murders, drug trafficking, weapons offenses, witness tampering, extortion and robbery.
A United States District Court jury convicted five co-defendants of racketeering and murder in June. After a two-month trial, the group of defendants was convicted on all counts, which accounted for 10 of 14 previously unsolved murders.
The case was the result of a two-year investigation by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, DEA, ATF, Columbus Police, Franklin County Sheriff Zach Scott’s Office, Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien’s Office, Fairfield County Prosecutor Gregg Marx, Licking County Prosecutor Kenneth Oswalt, Muskingum County Prosecutor D. Michael Haddox, Ross County Prosecutor Matthew S. Schmidt, law enforcement leaders from those counties, officials of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorneys David DeVillers, Kevin Kelley and Brian Martinez, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jimmy Lowe of Franklin County Prosecutor O’Brien’s Office.
Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Category: Organized Crime|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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