In federal court, 14 individuals associated with the Traveling Vice Lords/Junk Yard Dogs gang have received their sentences following their conviction for their involvement in a gang war that occurred in western Tennessee in 2020.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has reported that during a gang war in the summer of 2020, the gang members were involved in several attempted murders and murders of rival gang members.
Investigators have linked the war to five distinct shootings that occurred in both Fayette County and Hardeman County.
Under the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, 14 gang members have been found guilty of committing crimes.
According to United States Attorney Ritz, the individuals accused in this case were part of a dangerous gang that posed a serious threat to the safety and well-being of communities across West Tennessee. He further added that these defendants will now spend a considerable amount of time behind bars, with some receiving life sentences in federal prison. The attorney’s office remains committed to collaborating with law enforcement agencies at the federal, state, and local levels to hold gang members and those who pull the trigger accountable for their actions.
In February 9, 2024, a federal jury found three gang members guilty of RICO offenses. The remaining 11 members had already pled guilty to RICO offenses in 2023.
Here is a roster of the individuals who have been charged as gang members.
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- Tomarcus “TC” Baskerville , 35, was sentenced to 960 months to be followed by life imprisonment
- Courtland “Hotbox” Springfield , 32, was sentenced to 480 months to be followed by life imprisonment
- Montaveen “CGE Tay” Taylor , 26, was sentenced to 420 months
- Martivus “Tavis” Baskerville , 30, 324 months
- Deandra “Dre” Rivers , 28, 262 months
- Thomas “TJ” Smith , 25, 255 months
- Trevin “Scooter” Hullom , 31, 216 months
- Bianca Jackson , 23, 188 months
- Curtis “CB” Baskerville , 38, 180 months
- Mardarius McNeal , 26, 135 months
- Christopher “Lil Chris” Peeler , 32, 120 months
- Davaius “Mighty Shun” Worrles , 31, 66 months
- Deonte “Tez” Walker , 32, 41 months
- Torrance “Phat” Fitzpatrick , 29, 31 months
The Western District of Tennessee is plagued by the violent street gang known as TVL/JYD. This gang is actually a faction of the notorious Almighty Vice Lord Nation, which originated in Chicago.
