Five more sentenced in Cut Throat gang case

COLUMBIA – Five more members of the Cut Throat gang have been sentenced this week for involvement in illegal drug trafficking and gun-related incidents from January 2007 to January 2009.

• Dajuan Anthony Harris, 26, was sentenced to nine years and two months in federal prison without parole.

• William Ricky Boyd, 22, was sentenced to 10 years and 10 months in federal prison without parole.
  
• Robert Darnell Simmons, 37, was sentenced to seven years and 10 months in federal prison without parole.
  
• Dametrell Koda Washington, 28, was sentenced to six years and three months in federal prison without parole. 
• Tarron Montez Cason, 27, was sentenced to five years in federal prison without parole.
  

Harris pleaded guilty to "using a telephone to facilitate a conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and possessing a firearm while having prior felony convictions," a release from Beth Phillips, federal attorney for the Western District of Missouri, stated. Harris and Eric Sherron Coats, who was sentenced earlier, were overheard during a recorded telephone conversation talking about obtaining narcotics.

Boyd pleaded guilty to involvement in a drive-by shooting in relation to a major drug offense, as well as to using a firearm during a violent crime. On May 31, 2008, Boyd shot into a crowded gas station parking lot to get revenge against a rival gang, the Louie Bound group, according to previous Missourian reporting. On June 2, 2007, a member of the Louie Bound group shot a member of the Cut Throats at the Break Time gas station on Smiley Lane. Simmons drove Boyd and other members of the gang to the gas station, where Boyd then shot into the crowd.

Simmons pleaded guilty to his role in a conspiracy to illegally possess firearms in connection with a drug-trafficking crime and a violent crime, possessing firearms with the intent to intimidate or injure another person and to firing a weapon into a group of people. He also pleaded guilty to possession of crack cocaine with  intent to distribute.

Washington and Cason pleaded guilty to his role in a conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, powder cocaine and marijuana from January 2007 to January 2009. Washington also pleaded guilty to possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking conspiracy. Washington and Cason both admitted to moving at least a kilogram of powder cocaine and at least a half kilogram of crack cocaine.

All five men are from Columbia.

Fifteen of 16 defendants have been sentenced for their involvement with the Cut Throat gang.