Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn is pleased with the conviction of 15 members of the Clansman-One Don Gang. She also praises ex-gangsters for their cooperation which was vital in getting the men behind bars.

Llewellyn, Bailey hail gang convictions as victory for Jamaica

9 Mar 2023/Tanesha Mundle/Staff Reporter 

WHILE HAILING the conviction of 15 members of the Clansman-One Don Gang as a win for Jamaica, Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn lauded the two- ex-gangsters for putting Jamaica first by helping the State to put the hoodlums behind bars.

The two self-confessed ex-gang members and drivers, who doubled in their gang roles as banker and community don, gave key evidence about its operation and criminal activities which were instrumental in securing the convictions against leader Andre ‘Blackman’ Bryan and his cronies.

One of the ex-gangsters had provided secretly recorded conversations between himself and other members, which the judge used to rule that some of the defendants were gang members.

Reacting t o the outcome of the trial, the DPP said, “The administration of j ustice and Jamaica succeeded.”

However, she said the victory would not have been secured without the help of the two main witnesses.

“Although they have the antecedent as being a former gangster, in the final analysis, they chose to put Jamaica first and for that, they should be commended, and we certainly – both the police and prosecution – are grateful that they chose to put Jamaica first.

“And this was a case where the credibility of the Crown’s case really rested on the two the cooperating witnesses who are former members,” Llewellyn said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey, who is in charge of crime and security, was equally pleased with the conviction.

“It is a victory for the criminal justice system and law enforcement in Jamaica, “he said, “The verdict, in this case, represents to the world and Jamaica that there is a robust criminal justice system in Jamaica.”

Bryan was found guilty of being the leader and facilitating seven murders by the notorious St Catherine-based gang, including a double murder and arson, while 14 of his henchmen were convicted of being members.

Like Bryan, some were also convicted for facilitating the gang’s murder and murder conspiracy, while one was found guilty of gun charges.

17 FREED, ONE KILLED

The majority of the convictions were handed down in the Home Circuit Court on Wednesday by Chief Justice Bryan Sykes, wrapping up the trial, which had commenced in September 2021.

Of the 33 defendants initially hauled before the court, 17 were freed while one was killed.

Among those convicted are ex-soldier Jermaine Robinson and so-called St Thomas pastor, Stephanie Cole-Christie, the lone female member.

The others convicted were Tomrick ‘Fancy Ras’ Taylor, Dylon McLlean, Lamar ‘Sick Head’ Simpson, Michael ‘Stennet’ Whitley, Tareek ‘C.J.’ James, Fabian ‘Crocs’ Johnson, Jahzeal ‘ Squeeze Eye’ Blake, Donavon Williams, Roel ‘Rel’ Taylor, Brian Morris, Joseph ‘Papa’ McDermott, and Andrae ‘Raetae’ Golding.

However, of the 17 freed, the cases for five of them were previously conceded by the prosecution following the no-case submission by the defence. But for those who made it to the end, some were found not guilty because the evidence was insufficient, while other escaped conviction after the counts on which they were charged failed.

The charge for leadership of a criminal organisation attracts a maximum sentence of 30 years, while membership and facilitating both has a maximum of 20 years.The judge also has the power under the anti-gang legislation to order at least two consecutive sentences.

Among those freed was Jason ‘City Puss’ Brown, who the court heard was the deputy leader, and based on the recorded conversation attributed to him, was a strong supporter of and loyal to Bryan.

Brown was heard i n the recording tracing the gang’s history from the infamous leader of Donovan ‘Bulbie’ Bennett, to his alleged successor, Tesha Miller, down to Bryan.

In that recording, he was also heard bragging about how he had killed one of the now-freed defendant’s father and how he had also ordered an attack on a police station.

However, although Brown was said to be a member of the gang, none of the two witnesses had seen him. As such, he was identified by an inspector, who had heard his voice on a recording and went undercover to speak to him while he was in custody.

The police officer had blundered in identifying one of three recordings, resulting in the judge finding that his identification was not safe.

Brown will remain behind bars, however, as he is serving a life sentence for murder.

In handing down his ruling on the membership charge for a number of the gangsters, including the 48-year-old pastor, as well as Johnson and the soldier, Justice Sykes pointed to their conversations.

The judge questioned the rationale behind the discussion that the two males were having with the ex-gangster about guns, among other things. He noted that their conversations were consistent with the evidence given by the witnesses.

He also pointed to the ease with which they conversed, how they answered to the names that they were called, by the references made to the leader in the different names by which he was called.

With regard to Cole-Christie, he said the conversation was consistent with the evidence by the witnesses about her role, which was the gang’s fixer, which included police mediator, and procurer of lawyers and bailers for members. He said that the conversation also showed that she was a person of influence inside and outside of the gang.

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