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http://www.thewbalchannel.com/news/3570129/detail.html
Linked To 9 Murders, Drug Dealers Get Life In Prison
'Lexington Terrace Boys' Operated Open-Air Drug Markets In Baltimore
POSTED: 3:20 pm EDT July 23, 2004
BALTIMORE -- Two members of a murderous drug gang who were linked to nine murders and faced federal death penalties were sentenced to life in prison on Friday.
U.S. District Judge Catherine Blake sentenced Keon Moses, 21, and Michael Taylor, 20, after a jury unanimously decided to spare them from the death penalty in April at the end of a four-month trial.
br>"Life sentences as imposed by the court, without the possibility of parole under the federal system, ensure that these criminals stay off the streets," U.S. Attorney Thomas DiBiagio said.
<
br>Moses and Taylor operated in a squalid West Baltimore neighborhood with ope
n-air drug markets in a gang known as the Lexington Terrace Boys. Prosecutors said the men killed to protect their turf in narcotics trafficking.
Moses was convicted of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. He also was convicted on four counts of use of a firearm in relation to a drug conspiracy in the killings of Gregory Spain and Ronald Harris in 2001 and Robert McManus in 2002.
He was convicted of shooting Charles Brockington, who survived and testified at his trial.
When Moses was awaiting trial on those shootings, he allegedly sent a letter from jail, asking Taylor to kill McManus because he could have provided damaging testimony against Moses in the slayings.
Taylor also was convicted of using a
firearm in relation to a drug conspiracy in the killing of McManus, as well as witness tampering and conspiracy to distribute crack.
In addition to those murders, prosecutors argued in court
tha
t the men took part in killing six other people between 1999 and 2002. They were Cortez Bail
ey, Vance Beasly, Travis Burley, Kevin James, Derek Hamlin and Kiari Cromwell.
Aaron Foster, 24, who was convicted of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine in the drug gang, was scheduled to be sentenced next week. He also was convicted of witness tampering, carjacking and use of a firearm in relation to the carjacking.
Foster faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment on those charges.
http://www.thewbalchannel.com/news/3570129/detail.html
Linked To 9 Murders, Drug Dealers Get Life In Prison
'Lexington Terrace Boys' Operated Open-Air Drug Markets In Baltimore
POSTED: 3:20 pm EDT July 23, 2004
BALTIMORE -- Two members of a murderous drug gang who were linked to nine murders and faced federal death penalties were sentenced to life in prison on Friday.
U.S. District Judge Catherine Blake sentenced Keon Moses, 21, and Michael Taylor, 20, after a jury unanimously decided to spare them from the death penalty in April at the end of a four-month trial.
br>"Life sentences as imposed by the court, without the possibility of parole under the federal system, ensure that these criminals stay off the streets," U.S. Attorney Thomas DiBiagio said.
<
br>Moses and Taylor operated in a squalid West Baltimore neighborhood with ope
n-air drug markets in a gang known as the Lexington Terrace Boys. Prosecutors said the men killed to protect their turf in narcotics trafficking.
Moses was convicted of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. He also was convicted on four counts of use of a firearm in relation to a drug conspiracy in the killings of Gregory Spain and Ronald Harris in 2001 and Robert McManus in 2002.
He was convicted of shooting Charles Brockington, who survived and testified at his trial.
When Moses was awaiting trial on those shootings, he allegedly sent a letter from jail, asking Taylor to kill McManus because he could have provided damaging testimony against Moses in the slayings.
Taylor also was convicted of using a
firearm in relation to a drug conspiracy in the killing of McManus, as well as witness tampering and conspiracy to distribute crack.
In addition to those murders, prosecutors argued in court
tha
t the men took part in killing six other people between 1999 and 2002. They were Cortez Bail
ey, Vance Beasly, Travis Burley, Kevin James, Derek Hamlin and Kiari Cromwell.
Aaron Foster, 24, who was convicted of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine in the drug gang, was scheduled to be sentenced next week. He also was convicted of witness tampering, carjacking and use of a firearm in relation to the carjacking.
Foster faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment on those charges.