Two Murders Mean 23 Years For Baltimore Gang Member

BALTIMORE, MD — Two members of a violent Baltimore street gang pleaded guilty Friday, April 5, to racketeering charges involving the sale of cocaine, heroin, oxycodone and marijuana, say federal authorities. One of the men also admitted to participating in a pair of murders.

The guilty pleas by Christopher Dukes, 27, and Marcus Johnson, 28, both of Baltimore, stem from their activities as members of the Hillside gang, which sold narcotics in the Cherry Hill neighborhood. As part of his plea deal with prosecutors, Dukes admitted to participating in two murders; two attempted murders, including of a law enforcement officer; and the distribution of narcotics.

Under the plea deal, Dukes would be sentenced to 23 years in federal prison, while Johnson would get between 12 and 17 years. U.S. District Judge George Russell III has scheduled sentencing for Dukes and Johnson on June 17.

The guilty pleas are the latest step by city and federal law enforcement to break up the Hillside gang. Ten other members have pleaded guilty to their participation in the racketeering conspiracy. Of those, eight have been sentenced to between 10 and 30 years in federal prison. Another seven defendants are scheduled to go to trial on May 6, while two remain at large.

Dukes and Johnson admitted to selling drugs and committing acts of violence on behalf of the Hillside gang. Members of the gang routinely carried firearms and committed shootings, beatings, murders and other violence "to intimidate others who would interfere with their narcotics trafficking," said federal prosecutors.

As part of his plea, Dukes admitted to shooting and killing two people in 2012:

• In a case of mistaken identity, on Aug. 6, Duke and three other Hillside members shot two individuals, killing one, in the 2700 block of Giles Road, in the Up Da Hill section of Cherry Hill, say prosecutors. The intended target was a member of the Up Da Hill gang.
• Dukes and two other Hillside members also participated in the murder of an individual on Sept. 8 in the 2600 block of Kent Street in Baltimore, in a dispute over drugs and money.

Dukes also admitted that on Oct. 18, he and at least one Hillside co-conspirator shot an individual during an attempted robbery, using the same gun used in the murder on Sept. 8. And he admitted that on Aug. 1, 2011, he attempted to hit a law enforcement officer with his car in the 2900 block of Waterview Avenue.

“The most important thing that law enforcement officers can do to stop violence is to make clear that killers will be held accountable,” U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur said. “The Hillside gang is responsible for murders and other acts of violence throughout their community."

Two Still At Large

According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), a reward of $10,000 each is available for information leading to the arrest of the two fugitive defendants in this case:

• Travis Eugene Alewine, a/k/a Sticks, 27
• Deaven Raeshawn Cherry, a/k/a Gotti, 32

Both are from Baltimore, and should be considered armed and dangerous. They are charged federally with drug and racketeering conspiracies, including murders.

They are actively being sought by ATF Baltimore Special Agents and the U.S. Marshals Service. Law enforcement believes they are likely still in the counties near Baltimore City, if not within the city itself.

Anyone with information should contact ATF at (888) ATF-TIPS, ATFtips@atf.gov, text “ATFBAL” to 63975, or contact ATF via the mobile reportit® app.