Two Members of Cherry Hill Group Sentenced To 25 Years and 10 Years in Prison for Racketeering Conspiracy

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III today sentenced Steven Jackson, a/k/a Cutty, age 25; and Alonzo Clea, a/k/a Zo, age 26, both of Baltimore, to 25 years in prison, and 10 years in prison, respectively, both followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiring to participate in a racketeering enterprise in connection with their gang activities as members of the “Up the Hill,” “Up da Hill” and “UDH” ( UDH) organization, which operates in the Cherry Hill section of Baltimore.

The sentences were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Acting Special Agent in Charge Frank Riehl of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; Commissioner Kevin Davis of the Baltimore Police Department; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby.

“Many shootings and murders in Baltimore City involve disputes between rival gangs,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein.  “Police and prosecutors are saving lives by holding accountable the criminals who turned Cherry Hill into a war zone.”  

According to their plea agreements, from at least 1997 to 2013, the UDH organization operated in the area of Cherry Hill known as “Up the Hill” or “Up da Hill.”  UDH members have been in a violent dispute with both the “Coppin Court” and “Little Spelman,” which are organizations involved in criminal activity in the part of Cherry Hill known as “Down the Hill,” or “Down da Hill.”  In addition to selling drugs, UDH members have also committed murders, assaults and robberies.

Some of these acts of violence include the August 28, 2011 murder of Little Spelman member Dewayne Jones; the January 20, 2012 murder of Little Spelman leader Dominic Hope; the June 13, 2009 non-fatal shooting of Tavon Staley; and the August 9, 2009 murder of Charles Pratt.

Jackson admitted that on October 3, 2006, he shot a rival gang member in the 600 block of Cherry Hill Road; on August 8, 2007, he committed an armed robbery in the 800 block of W. Patapsco Avenue; and on January 22, 2011 he and another individual shot and killed rival Little Spelman gang member Harry Hicks, all in Baltimore.

Clea admitted that he possessed a firearm on November 10, 2008 near the 600 block of E. Patapsco; September 15, 2009 near the 5000 block of E. Monument; and July 19, 2014 near the 2800 block of Spelman Road, all in Baltimore.

To date, a total of 35 Cherry Hill gang members have pleaded guilty to their participation in the racketeering conspiracy.  Little Spelman gang member Davon Martin, age 26, admitted to drug dealing and the murders of two UDH gang members and was sentenced to 35 years in prison.  UDH member Dominic Evans, a/k/a “FlatLine,” age 25, admitted to drug dealing, two stabbings and to his participation in a murder, and was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the ATF, Baltimore Police Department, and Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Andrea L. Smith, Seema Mittal, and Patricia C. McLane, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.