ODPP: Tesha Miller among 23 men charged under anti-gang act

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) said Tesha Miller and 22 men were arrested, charged and indicted in the Home Circuit Court today under the Criminal Justice (Suppression of Criminal Organizations) Act (Anti-Gang Legislation).

In a press release, the ODPP said the men are alleged to be a part of a criminal organisation – the Klansman Gang, 'Tesha Faction', allegedly led by Miller – and have reportedly participated in several criminal activities between August 5, 2017 and August 22, 2022 in St Catherine.

The charges against them include murder, conspiracy to murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravation, illegal possession of firearm and illegal possession of ammunition.

The accused – Tesha Miller, Bjourn Thomas, Jermaine Hall, Kirk Forrester, Sharn Gilzene, Owen Billings, Jermain Clarke, Sharn Pottinger, Ryan Harrison, Michael Wildman, Ramone Stewart, Jerome Spike, Conroy Cadagan, Kimali Wynter, Kemar Miller, Kemar Francis, Charles McCleary, Carlos Williams, Dwayne Frater, Rolndo Spence, Nashaune Guest, Lamar Rowe and Geovaughni McDonald – appeared before Justice V. Graham-Allen in the Home Circuit Court today on the voluntary bill of indictment proffered by the ODPP on two counts as follows:

• COUNT 1: Tesha Miller for leadership of a criminal organisation – Klansman Gang, 'Tesha Faction' – between August 5, 2017 and August 22, 2022.

• COUNT 2: Bjourn Thomas, Jermaine Hall, Kirk Forrester, Sharn Gilzene, Owen Billings, Jermain Clarke, Sharn Pottinger, Ryan Harrison, Michael Wildman, Ramone Stewart, Jerome Spike, Conroy Cadagan, Kamali Wynter, Kemar Miller, Kemar Francis, Charles McCleary, Carlos Williams, Dwayne Frater, Rolndo Spence, Nashaune Guest, Lamar Rowe and Geovaughni McDonald for participating in a criminal organisation on a day unknown between August 5, 2017 and August 22, 2022.

The ODPP said the accused men were arrested and charged by members of the Counter Terrorism and Organized Crime Investigations Branch (C-TOC) and the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) on different dates.

Eighteen of the accused were brought before the Home Circuit Court on a voluntary bill of indictment charging offences under the Criminal Justice (Suppression of Criminal Organizations) Act earlier this year. The additional five appeared in court today.

The ODPP said at least two additional accused persons as well as other offences may be joined on the indictment at a later date.

All 23 accused were remanded and will return to court on April 18 in the Case Management Court in the Home Circuit Court for the following reasons:

(a) The prosecution is to amend the indictment with the correct spelling of the names of the accused persons: Rolndo Spence, Sharn Pottinger, Kimali Wynter and Geovaughni McDonald (on confirmation from the defence).

(b) To allow the accused persons Ryan Harrison, Conroy Cadagan and Kemar Francis to settle legal representation or to obtain legal aid assignments. (All other accused are being represented by defence counsel which was confirmed today).

(c) The materials received by the prosecution today to be disclosed electronically to all defence attorneys in the matter.

(d) There is to be a hearing to ascertain why Tesha Miller was brought to court an hour after all other accused men had been assembled at the Supreme Court for the 10 a.m. commencement today.

The ODPP said the court had been told that Miller had at first refused to cooperate with the authorities to be transported to court for the 10 a.m. start time. This hearing will follow after all other accused persons have been dealt with.

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