Department of Justice

Baltimore, Maryland – Jawaun Harris, age 24, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday to a federal charge of conspiracy to participate in the affairs of a racketeering enterprise, in connection with his membership in the Triple C gang, including a carjacking, two attempted murders and a drug distribution conspiracy.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Chief Robert McCullough of the Baltimore County Police Department; and Acting Commissioner Richard Worley of the Baltimore Police Department.

According to court documents, Harris was a member of the Cruddy Conniving Crutball gang, or Triple C, an enterprise operating primarily in east Baltimore. The gang’s main purpose was to commit violent acts to promote the reputation of the gang and to command respect from the neighborhood. The enterprise benefitted financially from selling narcotics, murdering drug dealers, taking contract killings, engaging in street robberies, robbing dice games, and occasionally carjacking vehicles. The members of the gang divided the proceeds of the robberies. Harris admitted that between 2015 and 2020, he and other Triple C members engaged in more than a dozen murders and numerous non-fatal shootings, robberies, and carjackings.

Also, Triple C members routinely used social media to identify and locate victims and to share information concerning possible retaliation for violent crimes committed by gang members. Triple C members and associates used at least 14 firearms to commit crimes, often trading with each other or other groups to avoid detection through ballistic evidence. They limited conversations about criminal plans to members of Triple C and critiqued each other after committing crimes regarding ways to improve their actions.

Harris admitted that he participated in two attempted murders on October 10 and 11, 2018, and a carjacking on October 10, 2018, during which at least one member of the conspiracy possessed a firearm. Harris also admitted that it was foreseeable to him, that his co-conspirators would commit other acts that he did not participate in, including at least 16 murders, 28 attempted murders, at least 22 robberies and attempted robberies, and three carjackings.

Co-defendants Rashaud Nesmith, a/k/a Shaud, age 21, and Michael Chester, a/k/a Mikkie, age 24, both of Baltimore, pled guilty to their participation in a racketeering conspiracy in June 2022 and were sentenced to 40 years and 20 years in federal prison, respectively.

Harris and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Harris will be sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar has scheduled sentencing for October 5, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.

This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (“ATF”) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (“NIBIN”). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF, the Baltimore County Police Department, the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation and thanked the FBI and the Office of the Baltimore City State’s Attorney for their assistance in the investigation and prosecution. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia C. McLane and Michael C. Hanlon, who are prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psn and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.