3 Reputed Gang Members Sentenced to Prison

OAKLAND, CA - Three reputed members of an Oakland gang were sentenced today to 15 years in state prison for their roles in an attempt to kill a member of a rival gang three years ago.

Zayonta Casmire, 24, Deyonne White, 26, and Armond Richardson, 34, who previously pleaded on contest to conspiracy to commit attempted murder and assault with a firearm for the incident in East Oakland in February 2013, were sentenced by Alameda County Superior Court Judge C. Don Clay.

Another defendant in the case, Darren Morris, 25, who also pleaded no contest to charges for additional incidents, is expected to receive a term of 20 years when he's sentenced by Clay next week. In addition, Terrance King, 22, pleaded no contest on July 23, 2013, and was sentenced on Aug. 20, 2013, to 17 years in prison.

Prosecutors allege that Casmire, Richardson, White, Morris and King belong to the Case Boys Gang and were targeting a member of the rival Money Team Gang. In announcing the arrest of the five men and other reputed Case Boys members in March 2013, former Oakland Police Chief Howard Jordan said the gang was probably the most violent group of young people he'd ever seen. Jordan said the arrests stemmed from a lengthy investigation into crimes allegedly committed by members of the Case Boys Gang as well as by members of the Money Team Gang.

Jordan said the crime sweep was part of Operation Ceasefire, a multi-disciplinary approach to fighting violence that his department launched in October 2012 and is still ongoing. The program involves having police, probation and parole officers work with community members such as pastors and crime victims to try to persuade members of gangs and other violent groups to try to stop engaging in violence and lead more productive lives.

Prosecutor Matt Wendt said no one reported the shooting in February 2013 but police were able to get evidence against the suspects because they were wiretapping the Case Boys Gang at the time.

--Bay City News; Image via Shutterstock