Arrests take down one of Louisville’s most-violent gangs: Feds

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS/WTVQ) — Local, state and federal investigators say they have taken down one of Louisville’s most violent neighborhood gangs with the arrest of 14 people on weapons, drug trafficking and other charges.

Guns seized during searches/FBI Photo

The arrests have at least one family talking about what the gang has done to their neighborhood, including killing a family member.

Krista and Navada Gwynn never thought their son Christian, would be the last homicide of 2019.

“I prayed that it didn’t ever happen to my son,” said Navada, the victim’s father.

“My son was a good kid, he was 19, he just came home from Job Corps, he graduated in six months and two years ahead of his 9th grade class,” said Krista and Navada.

Now their 18-year-old daughter Victoria doesn’t feel safe in her neighborhood and they say they are going to be leaving the Shawnee neighborhood.

“She can’t even walk to the store because she’s scared of a stray bullet,” Krista said.

Navada, her father, who has lived in the neighborhood for 30 years, is ready to leave his home town. Their 19-year-old son Christian was killed in a drive-by shooting and police don’t know who shot him.

Tuesday U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman addressed a year-long investigation: the feds saying they busted one of Louisville’s most violent drug gangs…armed drug trafficking. Federal charges for 14 people, 11 of them arrested. They began this investigation to reduce violent crime in Louisville. This investigation is just one of the ways, the ATF, FBI and LMPD are working to make sure families like the Gwynns, don’t have to suffer anymore losses.

Earlier this month, 10 search warrants were executed and 11 of those 14 individuals were arrested. Three individuals remain fugitives. About 400 grams of heroin, worth around $40,000, were seized, as well as 13 firearms and $328,000 in cash.

“There is no sense of urgency in this community with all of the energy we have felt in the last two months, and all of the energy, the unsettling period we’ve been in this community…As we’re elevating names as the street is frustrated and angry, and elevating names in this protest environment, what you don’t hear, are names of those we’ve lost, in violent crime,” Coleman said. “What there has not been is a sense of urgency to actually save black lives in impacted neighborhoods.”

Coleman said they began the investigation with the intention to reduce violent crime in Louisville. He said there have been 79 homicides and 310 non-fatal shootings this year in Louisville, and “the vast majority of those impacted are in primarily African American neighborhoods.”

Families like the Gwynns, live in fear almost every day. And their lives will never be the same.

“We hear gunshots all the time, morning noon and night,” Krista said. “We’ll never be able to sleep soundly again because my son is gone, and my daughter is petrified, and my 12 year old feels like she’s stopped growing.”

In a statement, LMPD Chief Robert Schroeder said:

“Today’s announcement highlights how important LMPD’s work with our federal partners is, taking people who threaten the safety of this community off the streets. As we experience a spike in shootings and homicides in our city, we are utilizing every partnership we have — with federal agencies, local prosecutors, and community members – to hold those committing violence accountable. We have much work to do to create the safe community we all deserve, but today’s announcement shows the progress possible when we work together.”

The 14 people arrested or wanted in the investigation are Deonte Beason, James Bivens, Kevone Evans, Ronnie Gadberry, Reginald Harris, Jen-Luc Henry, Kevin Henry, Jason Edwin Logsdon, Dariyon Newsome, Destiney Lashai Rhodes, Khalid Ashanti Raheem II, Frank Trammel Jr., Pierre Travis and Levontay Townes.

If convicted, those charge face five to 40 years for conspiracy and if they have prior felony convictions, they could face 10 years to life, federal prosecutors said.