SIX COLUMBIA GANG MEMBERS SENTENCED

COLUMBIA, South Carolina -- Acting United States Attorney Kevin F. McDonald announced today that six gang members have been sentenced in federal court following their guilty pleas to drug conspiracy charges.  United States District Court Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr., imposed the sentences and ordered that all six defendants be monitored by the United States Probation Office for five years after the completion of their prison sentences.
         The case arose out of an investigation by the FBI-led Columbia Violent Gang Task Force into the illegal activities of members of the Gangsta Killer Bloods (“GKB”), a local chapter of the United Blood Nation originating from New York.  In January 2007, 23 GKB members and associates were indicted on federal drug and firearm violations stemming from their involvement in a cocaine, crack, and marijuana distribution conspiracy. 21 of the 23 defendants charged pled guilty, and the remaining two defendants were recently found guilty following at trial.
        The six defendants sentenced today, all from Columbia, were: 
        JENERO DEAN WILLIAMS, II, a/k/a “Lil Nero,” age 19, sentenced to 120 months imprisonment;
        CHARLES EUGENE NORRIS, a/k/a “One-Eye Willie,” age 23, sentenced to 60 months imprisonment;
        JEFFREY ALLAN GRIFFIN, a/k/a “JJ,”  age 20, sentenced to 135 months imprisonment;
        BRYAN DARNELL RILEY, a/k/a “Hawk,” age 22, sentenced to 120 months imprisonment;
        RICHARD EDWARD NORRIS, a/k/a “Brazo,” age 21, sentenced to 120 months imprisonment; and
        BRODERICK ZACCHEUS HILLER, a/k/a “Red,” age 26, sentenced to 135 months imprisonment. 
        The remaining 17 defendants are awaiting sentencing.
        The case was investigated by agents of the FBI's Columbia Violent Gang Task Force as part of Project CeaseFire.  Assistant United States Attorneys Stacey D. Haynes and Jane B. Taylor handled the prosecution of the case.