July 20, 2012 Media Contact: Jenn Meale Phone: (850) 245-0150

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TAMPA, Fla.—Attorney General Pam Bondi today announced that five gang members were sentenced to a total of 70 years in prison and 64 years of probation for their participation in a violent local street gang from Tampa known as the "Cross-Fletcher Hot Boys."

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office began investigating the “Cross-Fletcher Hot Boys” in early 2009. The gang was dominating the drug trade in a north Tampa neighborhood, and the gang's members were implicated in a number of homicides, armed robberies, and shootings. In late 2010, the HCSO took 10 gang members into custody on racketeering and other charges.

Dijon Johnson (6/3/1987) was sentenced to 10 years in prison, to be followed by four years probation, after pleading guilty to racketeering, conspiracy, resisting officers with violence, and drug conspiracy charges.

Vanord Rutherford (2/13/1987), Oliver Hodges (5/29/1984), Milton Smith (8/5/1986), and Jeremiah Newsome (1/25/1986) were found guilty by a jury after a three-week trial in April and May of 2012 on charges of racketeering and conspiracy. Each was sentenced to 15 years in prison, to be followed by 15 years of probation.

The case was prosecuted through a partnership between the Office of the State Attorney for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida and the Attorney General's Office of Statewide Prosecution. To date, nine of the 10 arrested defendants have been sentenced to a total of 113.5 years in prison and 65.5 years of probation.