Defendants plead guilty in RICO case, canceling May trial

The five remaining defendants who were arrested last year for conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act pleaded guilty in Superior Court Monday.

Jamil Thompkins was sentenced to life, plus 20 years; Jacorey Reese received 27 years, to serve 10; Jayqwan Stephens received 30 years, to serve 13; Askiri Lewis was sentenced to 30 years, to serve 14; and Lequayvion Stuckey received 30 years to serve 14.

Kara Murray, communications director for the Office of the Attorney General Chris Carr, said these pleas meant that all defendants in this case had been convicted and sentenced and no trial will take place in May. In total, the AG’s office has now successfully prosecuted 13 MPL gang members in Dublin. 

The defendants were alleged to have conspired to obtain money, property and firearms by engaging in a pattern of criminal activity, including murder, aggravated assault, armed robbery and dealing in controlled substances. The indictment was part of a multi-agency operation that has resulted in the recovery of guns and drugs, including cocaine with fentanyl and fentanyl pills.

“For years, this gang terrorized the community,” Carr said in a press release. “Now, a total of 13 MPL associates are behind bars, including the founder and three leaders, and Laurens County is safer today because of it. We said we wouldn’t rest until those responsible for this senseless violence were held accountable for their actions, and we kept our promise to the people of Dublin because protecting Georgians is our top priority.” 

The case was investigated by the Dublin Police Department, the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Gang Task Force, the GBI’s Southeastern Regional Drug Enforcement Office, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, the Swainsboro Police Department, the Wrightsville Police Department, ATF, FBI and the Attorney General’s Gang Prosecution Unit.

“The sentences handed down by our courts are a direct reflection of the community’s uncompromising commitment to have a safe Dublin-Laurens County,” wrote DPD Chief Keith Moon. “I want to thank the community for their support in this operation. I also want to thank the officers and support staff of the Dublin Police Department for their dedication over the last three years to support this operation and work tirelessly to bring these people to justice.

“I also want to thank the various agencies that supported our agency and this operation over the last three years. This shows our community that we are dedicated to making the citizens of Dublin, Laurens County safe and that we will use every resource available to accomplish this mission. Now … round 2.”

According to the indictment, MPL began in Laurens County. MPL associates typically align themselves with the 1831 Pirus and the Rollin’ 20s Neighborhood Bloods, both of which are traditional West Coast Blood sets. 

Each of the defendants were charged with at least one count of conspiracy to violate the RICO Act. Specifically, between Feb. 1, 2016, to Jan. 11, 2024, the defendants were alleged to have conspired together and with others to achieve the following objectives:

– Acquire U.S. currency, weapons and other property;

– Maintain and increase the reputation, power and influence of the enterprise;

– Enhance the reputation of the enterprise through the posting of messages, images and videos promoting its size, profitability and readiness to engage in acts of violence; and

– Establish and maintain the enterprise’s structure through the payment and collection of dues and the distribution of proceeds from criminal activity among associates.

Overall, the indictment includes 114 overt acts of which the defendants are alleged to have committed in furtherance of the conspiracy and to affect its objectives and purposes.