Jawaun Harris, Conspiracy to Participate in a Racketeering Enterprise, Maryland 2023

Baltimore – Jawaun Harris, 24, of Baltimore, Maryland, has confessed to a decade of terror as a member of the notorious Triple C gang, a criminal enterprise responsible for a wave of violence that plagued East Baltimore. Harris pleaded guilty yesterday to federal charges of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise, admitting his role in a carjacking, two attempted murders, and a widespread drug distribution network. The plea carries a recommended sentence of 10 years in federal prison.

Federal prosecutors detailed how the Cruddy Conniving Crutball gang, known as Triple C, operated as a brutal force, using violence to establish dominance and reap financial rewards. The gang’s activities included drug sales, contract killings, robberies of both businesses and individuals, and, at times, the brazen theft of vehicles. Proceeds were divided amongst members, fueling further criminal activity. Court documents reveal Harris and his co-conspirators were linked to over a dozen murders and countless shootings, robberies, and carjackings between 2015 and 2020.

The gang didn’t rely on back alleys and whispers. Triple C members actively exploited social media to pinpoint victims and coordinate potential retaliations for crimes committed by fellow members. Investigators found that at least 14 firearms were used in the commission of their crimes, with members routinely swapping weapons to evade detection by forensic ballistic analysis. Internal communications, limited to gang members, focused on planning criminal acts and critiquing each other’s performance after the fact – a chilling display of calculated brutality.

Specifically, Harris confessed to participating in two attempted murders and a carjacking all on October 10 and 11, 2018, each involving the use of firearms. While Harris didn’t directly participate in every crime, he admitted it was foreseeable that his co-conspirators would commit other violent acts, including at least 16 murders, 28 attempted murders, 22 robberies, and three additional carjackings. He’s effectively admitting to being part of a criminal enterprise that left a trail of blood and fear across Baltimore.

This isn’t a lone conviction. Rashaud Nesmith, a/k/a Shaud, 21, and Michael Chester, a/k/a Mikkie, 24, both of Baltimore, previously pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy in June 2022. Nesmith received a 40-year sentence, while Chester was sentenced to 20 years. Harris’ sentencing is scheduled for October 5, 2023, before Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar, pending court approval of the plea agreement.

The case was cracked open thanks to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and its National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN, a national database of ballistic evidence, allowed investigators to link firearms used in multiple crime scenes, disrupting the cycle of violence. The ATF highlighted NIBIN as a crucial tool in solving and preventing firearm-related crimes, offering a glimmer of hope in a city plagued by gun violence. The investigation underscores the ATF’s commitment to dismantling violent criminal enterprises like Triple C.

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