FLORENCE — One of the men who led a gang responsible for shootings and other crimes in Florence since 2004 has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.
U.S. District Judge Bryan Harwell sentenced Metris Deon Ham, also known as “Crazy Lil Daddy,” 32, on federal drug conspiracy charges, U.S. Attorney W. Walter Wilkins said.
Ham was the leader of the West Marion Up Top Soldiers street gang. His co-defendants were sentenced in September.
The co-defendants, members or affiliates of the West Marion Up Top Soldiers street gang in Florence, are Willie Donnell Burrell, also known as “Destroya,” 34; Levester Tyyon Woods, also known as “Main,” 23; Antwan Lorenzo Woods, also known as “Twan,” 21; Jyquan Antonio Woods, also known as “Cheese,” 20; Tyquan Jamar Johnson, also known as “Lil Ty,” 23; Caryone Corry McDonald, 28; Charles Ray Thomas II, also known as “Worm,” 24; and Demtrius Lashawn Capers, also known as “Pee Wee,” 24.
The gang’s leaders, Ham and Burrell, faced mandatory sentences of at least 20 and 10 years, respectively, and could have received life in prison.
The other men faced five years to life in prison depending on their prior convictions and involvement in the drug conspiracy case.
Evidence against the defendants included multiple drug buys and seizures of guns and drugs from gang members.
Law enforcement officers also obtained DVDs featuring rap videos of gang members from across the state. The West Marion Up Top Soldiers’ videos glorified gang membership, violence and drug dealing and featured elementary school children flashing the gang’s “WM” symbol, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The case was investigated by the Florence Police Department, the Florence County Sheriff’s Office, the 12th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, the FBI and the U.S. Marshal’s Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rose Mary Parham of Florence prosecuted the case.
Florence Police Chief Anson Shells said in an earlier report there are at least 20 known gangs in the city of Florence, and the arrests were part of an ongoing investigation after an eruption of violence about two years ago.
Parham said all the suspects were arrested as a result of a criminal complaint signed by a magistrate.
Wilkins said this is just one of many federal gang prosecutions in response to the gang shootings, violence, and drug dealing in and around the Florence area.
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