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Members of East Temple gang arrested on felony charges, including five murders across CTX

One defendant considered a fugitive
Posted at 2:57 PM, Oct 21, 2020
and last updated 2020-10-21 23:40:27-04

Several members of the Temple gang, Killas With Aggression, have been arrested for several felony charges, including five murders in the Central Texas area.

Three individuals, who were arrested Wednesday, along with three other KWA members, who were already in custody, have been charged with racketeering, Hobbs Act violations and federal drug trafficking charges.

Those indicted defendants arrested Wednesday include:

  • 39-year-old Jason Mayse
  • 24-year-old Christopher "CJ" Meyers
  • 27-year-old Reginald "Reggie" Williams

The six indicted defendants who were already in custody include:

  • 27-year-old Desmond "Mookie" Wilkerson
  • 23-year-old Atorius Marquis "Lil Man" Williams
  • 21-year-old Demonta "Tado" Daniels
  • 26-year-old Trashawn Lamar "Mad Max" Alexander
  • 27-year-old James Roy "Snoopy" Whitfield, Jr.
  • 24-year-old Jyraciel "Raci" Whitfield

Officials say a seventh indicted defendant, 25-year-old Dominic "Dumbway" Johnson is considered a fugitive.

Wilkerson, Atorius Williams, Daniels, Whitfield and Meyers are charged with conspiracy to violate the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO) Act.

The indictment alleges that the five conspired with others to commit five murders, multiple violent assaults, extortion, drug trafficking and armed robberies in furtherance of the criminal enterprise.

Specifically, the indictment alleges five overt acts to include murder:

  • One committed on November 26, 2015, by Williams in Hearne
  • The second, committed by Williams and Daniels, on September 30, 2017 in Belton
  • The third, committed by Williams and Alexander, on December 10 in Temple
  • The fourth, committed by Williams and Daniels, on January 16, 2018, in Temple
  • The fifth, committed by Williams, Daniels and Alexander, on January 31, 2018, in Temple

The RICO conspiracy charge also alleges the defendants committed multiple assaults resulting in serious bodily injury and armed robberies against various individuals for not using KWA as their source of supply for narcotics distribution.

The indictment also charges all of the defendants, with the exception of Mayse, with conspiracy to violate the Hobbs Act, or affect commerce by robbery.

The indictment alleges that since September 2017, the nine defendants conspired to affect commerce by robbery, committing acts of physical violence and threatening to commit acts of physical violence to steal controlled substances and proceeds from persons engaged in illegal drug distribution.

Atorius Williams, Meyers, Reginald Williams, Daniels Whitfield and Alexander are also charged with brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, namely robbery. Atorius Williams and Whitfield are further charged with discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.

Johnson, Wilkerson and Mayse have been charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana. The three KWA gang members are allegedly responsible for trafficking over 100 kilograms of marijuana throughout Central Texas since 2014.

A related federal criminal complaint unsealed Wednesday charges 25-year-old KWA affiliate and Temple resident Christopher "Money Montana" Kelso, 21-year-old KWA associate and Temple resident Emanual Padilla and 22-year-old KWA member and Temple resident Darius "Bighomie Dlove" Hellums with conspiring to violate te Hobs Act.

The complaint alleges that on July 14, 2019, Kelso, Padilla and Hellums robbed a Temple residence, which resulted in an occupant being shot by one of the defendants causing serious bodily harm. The indictment alleges the defendants targeted the occupants of the house due to the sale of marijuana and firearms at the location.

If convicted, the defendants could face a maximum of up to life in prison.

The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, which brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone.