Sixteen alleged members and affiliates of Houston’s YNS gang face federal drug trafficking, robbery and firearms charges following an investigation into suspected armed cocaine robbery plots, prosecutors announced Tuesday.
A federal grand jury indicted six defendants, while prosecutors charged 10 others through criminal complaints, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas. All 16 Houston residents have made initial court appearances.
The charges include cocaine conspiracy and attempted possession offenses, robbery conspiracy and carrying firearms in connection with drug trafficking. Each defendant could face life in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine if convicted, prosecutors said.
Armed cocaine robbery plots
Several alleged participants met a confidential informant July 23 before heading to what they believed was a stash house holding 42 kilograms of cocaine, carrying firearms and wearing masks, gloves and black clothing, according to the release.
Darrell Sampson, 18; Jacob Barrett, 18; and Kristian Winters, 18, allegedly planned another armed robbery when authorities arrested them September 23. They intended to rob someone at gunpoint after an anticipated cocaine transaction, prosecutors said.
Ten other defendants allegedly planned to deliver what they believed was 50 kilograms of cocaine, then rob the buyer. Authorities found firearms, zip ties and gloves when they arrested those defendants, prosecutors said.
The court ordered Sampson, Barrett and Winters to remain in custody pending further proceedings. Jocquez Frye, 18; Jaquan McClendon, 19; and Triwayne Davison, 20, will also remain in custody under the court’s order, according to the release.
Defense challenges FBI tactics
The investigation involved FBI-controlled robbery scenarios and a confidential source with music-industry ties, Click2Houston reported in a story updated September 30. Defense attorneys disputed investigators’ interpretation of rap videos and argued that the source induced criminal conduct.
“There’s no crime in rap songs about violence,” Frye’s attorney James Stafford said, according to Click2Houston’s account of the hearings.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sebastian Edwards disputed entrapment allegations, arguing that the defendants repeatedly chose to participate when the FBI gave them opportunities to commit crimes, the outlet reported.
In a separate Houston case, federal authorities announced racketeering, murder, drug trafficking and firearms charges against 20 alleged Free Money gang members and associates in February. The Dallas Express covered that indictment.
The charges remain allegations. The defendants retain the presumption of innocence.
