ATLANTA — Six members of the notorious 135 Pirus street gang have been indicted on federal charges ranging from conspiracy to obstruct justice to murder in aid of racketeering.
A federal grand jury returned the nine-count indictment on:
- Maurice Antonio Kent, a.k.a. “Savage Duze,” 27, of Cartersville, Ga.
- Christopher Nwanjoku, a.k.a. “Problem,” 25, of Lawrenceville, Ga.
- Jamel Dupree Hughes, a.k.a. “Savage,” 24, of Atlanta
- Cedric Sams, Jr., a.k.a. “Awall,” 25, of Cartersville, Ga.
- Jennifer Foutz, a.k.a. “Rose,” 25, of Acworth, Ga.
- Michael Kent, a.k.a. “Wikked,” 27, of Atlanta
According to federal prosecutors, the 135 Pirus gang originated in Compton, Calif., and expanded into Georgia, dividing itself into a Southside/Atlanta group, a Northside/North group, and a Northwest Georgia group. Officials said the 135 Pirus are governed by a set of rules, codes, laws, and oaths, which, among other things, call for death of any gang member who cooperates with law enforcement.
According to prosecutors, an argument erupted outside a Brookhaven nightclub in the early morning hours of May 13, 2017. When a California-based 135 Pirus gang member was supposedly disrespected, Maurice Antonio Kent allegedly fired multiple rounds into a crowd of people outside the club, wounding a gang member from another gang and a security guard.
Kent, 17, was arrested on the scene. 135 Pirus gang members then came to believe was talking to the police about the shooting.
On June 3, 2017, according to prosecutors, Nwanjoku, Hughes, Foutz, and Sams Jr., devised a plan to lure Kent old to Bartow County and murder him. Kent’s body was later discovered lying on the side of a rural road in Bartow County.
Four days later, Hughes and Foutz encountered a member of another gang at an Acworth gas station, according to police. After words were exchanged, Hughes allegedly got out of the passenger side of Foutz’s vehicle and shot the member of the other gang multiple times.
Undercover police were at the gas station on an unrelated case, and saw the shooting. After a short chase, Hughes allegedly tossed the gun out of the car window. The gun was recovered and Hughes and Foutz were stopped and arrested.
The federal charges result from 135 Pirus gang-related crimes including the May 13, 2017 shooting, the June 4, 2017 murder, and the June 7, 2017 shooting.
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