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City Men Charged For Gang Membership
posted (September 23, 2014)
Last week, we told you about the press conference hosted by Prime Minister Dean Barrow and the Police High Command following those 4 shootings which left 3 people dead and 5 injured on last week Wednesday.

As we told you, the investigators believe that 3 of those shootings were direct retaliation by affiliates of the George Street Gang, after reputed GSG figure Brandon Tillett's father, Cyril McFoy Robinson was murdered in his yard next to the Saint Ignatius Primary School.

At that press conference, the Prime Minister announced that police were going to enforce the crime of belonging to a criminal gang, as part of their crackdown. Well today, Brandon "BT" Tillett, and his fellow reputed affiliate, Shane Harris, were taken to court for that charge, and tonight they are on remand.

According to police, on Thursday, a few hours after those retaliatory shootings, they caught Harris, Tillett and Lopez together, with half a gram of weed. That's a negligible quantity, but police charged the men with drug possession, and they charged Harris with the offence knowingly being a member of the George Street Gang - which is the first time that offence is being used. Brandon Tillett was charged with failing to comply with the conditions of his deportation, because he allegedly affiliated with the Gorge Street Gang.

Both men were arraigned before the Chief Magistrate, Ann Marie Smith, and they were remanded to prison until November 13.

They are joined in the crackdown by 30 year-old Mark Medina who was charged with displaying gang membership. Police say that on last week Saturday, they caught him showing off GSG "Gaza" Tattoo on his body. He was arraigned before Magistrate Herbert Panton, where he pleaded not guilty. He was released on bail of $1,000, and he must return to court on November 13.

Jeremy Rhaburn chose to forego a lengthy trial, and he pleaded guilty to the charge of displaying gang membership when he was arraigned today before Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer. Police say that on Saturday, they were on patrol at the corner of North Front Street and Pinks Alley when they saw Rhaburn, who had no shirt on. He had a "30's" tattooed on his chest, and so they charged him for it. He told the court that he has had the tattoo for 13 years now.

Another, arcane gang offence was brought against 35 year-old Moses Gonguez. He was charged with inviting support for a criminal gang, because according to police, they saw him on Mayflower Street and he was talking to a group of men.

Because of the Nature of the offence, he couldn't be granted bail, and he was remanded by Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer to prison until November 26.

37 year-old Eugene Tillett was sentenced to 1 year in prison after he pleaded guilty before the Chief Magistrate to the offense of displaying Gang Membership. Police say that on Saturday, he was on Mayflower Street, and they spotted the words "Ghost Town" tattooed on his back. He pleaded guilty, and begged not to be sent to jail. The Chief Magistrate didn't oblige and sent him to jail.

37 year-old Shane Budran, a supervisor of Cisco Construction was also fined with 500 dollars after he pleaded guilty to displaying gang membership. Police say that on Independence Day, they saw him on Wagner's Lane with a tattoo which said "30's Jump Street Gangster" on his back. He pleaded guilty when he was arraigned before the Senior Magistrate, and he was sentenced to pay a fine of $500.

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