Gang members sentenced to life in prison for crimes including murder, extortion and drug trafficking

WACO, Texas (KWTX) – Federal prosecutors used the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO) Act and the Hobbs Act to convict several Central Texas gang members of various crimes, including four murders, multiple violent assaults, extortion, drug trafficking and armed robbery.

According to a prosecutors’ report, Atorius “Lil Man” Marquis Williams, 27, and Trashawn “Mad Max” Lamar Alexander, 30, along with co-defendant Demonta “Tado” “Tato” Daniels, are members of a criminal organization that conspired to distribute controlled substances and to rob people involved in the distribution of controlled substances.

The indictment alleges there were four instances where the trio displayed homicidal thoughts.

The first incident occurred on September 30, 2017, involving Williams in Belton; the second incident occurred on December 10, 2017, involving Williams and Alexander in Temple; the third incident occurred on January 16, 2018, involving Williams and Daniels in Temple; and the fourth incident occurred on January 31, 2018, involving Williams, Alexander, and Daniels in Temple.

The defendants were also charged with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, physical violence and threats of violence to steal controlled substances and proceeds of illegal drug sales. They were also allegedly convicted of brandishing a firearm during a robbery.

Alexander alone was convicted of discharging a firearm during a violent crime, the news release said.

Williams and Alexander were sentenced to life in prison on three counts and a concurrent 20-year sentence on three other counts. Daniels will be sentenced at a later date.

According to prosecutors, seven co-defendants in the case have already been sentenced: Dominic Johnson was sentenced to 70 months in January 2023 for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine; Desmond Wilkerson was sentenced to 71 months in September 2023 for racketeering conspiracy; James Roy Whitfield Jr. was sentenced to 102 months on February 13 for one count of obstructing commerce by theft and one count of aiding and abetting; Jason Mayse was also sentenced on February 13 to 40 months for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana; Jyaraciel Whitfield was sentenced to 144 months for one count of obstructing commerce by theft and one count of aiding and abetting; Christopher Meyers was sentenced to 144 months in August 2022 for racketeering conspiracy. and Reginald Williams was sentenced to 96 months in prison in September 2023 for one count of obstruction of commerce by theft and one count of aiding and abetting.