Year-long investigation nets indictments for dozens of suspected gang members
Published 7:00 am Saturday, March 2, 2019
Hume
Craft
Walters
Brousse
Bertucci
Stockstill
Normand
Jones
Brueggert
Stephens
Dragon
Kathman
Lacoste
Watts
Penton
Dragon
Steen
Branton
davis
Raby
Sanford
Bertucci
Thursday morning the result of a nearly year-long investigation resulted in the arrest of more than 20 people for their alleged involvement in a gang as part of “Operation Rey Ban.”
According to a release from the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department, over the past year, narcotics detectives with the Sheriff’s Department, patrol officers and investigators with the Picayune Police Department, Mississippi Department of Corrections, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were investigating the Latin Kings street gang, which was operating in Pearl River County.
The release states that the gang is based in Chicago, Ill., and now operates nationwide.
In the investigation about 30 members of the gang were identified in this county, the release states.
Sheriff David Allison said the investigation began when investigators served a search warrant at a home about a year ago, and found evidence of the gang’s operation, some of which included a gang manual.
Evidence collected in the investigation led to the grand jury indicting a number of suspects, many of whom were arrested as part of the roundup Thursday, Allison said.
Arrested are the following:
Kyle Kathman “King Coreleone,” 23, of 1016 Timber lane, Picayune. According to the release, “he is the highest ranking Latin King member in Pearl River County outside of prison. Known as the “Inca” or leader of the local chapter. Kathman was indicted for trafficking methamphetamine while in possession of a firearm, possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute while in possession of a firearm, and criminal street gang activity stemming from his arrest on Sept. 29, 2018. Kathman is being held without bond on the charges of possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute while in possession of a firearm, and possession of a stolen firearm stemming from his arrest on March 9, 2017.”
Dominick Bertucci, “King Tucci,” 23, of 3 Jenkins Rd., Carriere. According to the release, “Bertucci was an enforcer for the gang, and was second in command for the Pearl River County chapter, just below Kathman. Bertucci was indicted on three counts of sale of a controlled substance, three counts of conspiracy to sell a controlled substance, four counts of criminal street gang activity, and two counts of possession of a weapon by a felon. Bertucci also has two additional sale of methamphetamine charges pending from his arrest on Feb. 22, of this year. A hold has been placed on Bertucci by the Mississippi Department of Corrections for probation violation.”
Kolby Dragon, “King Kash,” 24, of 129 Rovira Rd., Carriere. According to the release, “Kolby Dragon was third in command of the gang alongside Dominick Bertucci, and underneath Kyle Kathman. Dragon was the secretary and also an enforcer for the gang. Dragon has been indicted on one count of conspiracy to sell a controlled substance, one count of sale of methamphetamine, one count of possession of Xanax with intent to distribute while in possession of a firearm, two counts of criminal street gang activity, and two counts of possession of a weapon by a felon stemming from his arrest on Sept. 29, 2018. Dragon is currently serving time with the Mississippi Department of Corrections for conspiracy and sale of marijuana, and will be served his new indictments in prison.”
Kyle Lacoste, 23, of Shorty Burgess, Picayune, was arrested for three counts of sale of heroin and hold has been placed on him by MDOC for probation violation, the release states.
Skylar Davis, 21, of 3 Joyce Lumpkin Lane, Picayune. The release states that she is the former girlfriend of Kolby Dragon and current girlfriend of Kyle Lacoste. She is a “known associate of the Latin Kings, indicted for possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute and tampering with evidence. Davis was also arrested on warrants for three counts of sale of heroin.”
Charlie “CJ” Walters, “King Yolo,” 25, of 1549 Section Line Rd., Picayune, was arrested for one count of sale of methamphetamine, the release states.
Skylar Branton, “Queen Bout It,” 28, of 910 Cayten St. Apt 2, Picayune, was arrested on Feb. 28, 2019 for one count of sale of suboxone, and on Oct. 01, 2018 by the Picayune Police Department for burglary of a residence. A hold has been placed on Branton by MDOC for probation violation.
James Brueggert, “King Ruger,” 26, of 910 Cayten St. Apt 2, Picayune, was arrested Feb. 28, 2019 for one count of sale of a controlled substance, and on Oct. 1, 2018 by the Picayune Police Department for burglary of a residence.
Justin Stephens, “King Q,” 36, of 812 Lake Borngne Ct., Slidell, La. was arrested on Dec. 2, 2018 for an MDOC probation violation warrant. “Stephens is currently serving his sentence with MDOC for a conviction of possession of methamphetamine.”
Michael Shane Penton, 39, of 20 Davis Dawsey Rd., Picayune, was arrested on Sept. 26, 2018 for “possession of heroin with the intent to distribute, possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of pharmaceuticals with intent to distribute, and tampering with physical evidence. Penton is currently serving his sentence with MDOC for convictions of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, conspiracy to commit a crime, and escape,” the release states.
Eric Stockstill, “King E” or “BIG E,” 37, of 138 Shore Crest Circle, Carriere, was arrested on Aug. 4, 2018 and Jan. 8, 2019 for “two separate counts of possession of methamphetamine stemming from different incidents. A hold has been placed on Stockstill by MDOC for probation violation,” the release states.
Kyle Watts “King Titan,” 21, of 3128 Jackson Landing Rd, Picayune, was arrested “on Aug. 13, 2018 for a drug court violation warrant on a previous conviction for grand larceny,” the release states.
Richard “Rick” Steen, 43, of 27 Sunny Acres Rd., Carriere was arrested on June 1, 2018 for “aggravated assault and possession of a weapon by a felon. Steen is currently incarcerated by MDOC for a conviction of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute,” the release states.
Stephan Brooks Raby, “King Brotherman,” 33, of 56 Shorty Burgess Rd. Picayune. Raby was arrested on Dec. 12, 2018 “for a warrant out of New Orleans on the charge of cruelty to juveniles. Raby also had an MDOC hold placed upon him. Raby was extradited to Louisiana where he was released on his own recognizance, and was not held for the Department of Corrections. Raby was subsequently re-arrested on Jan. 31, 2019 by the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department and the Mississippi Department of Corrections,” the release states.
Tiffany Bertucci, 41, of 3 Jenkins Rd., Carriere, is Dominick Bertucci’s mother. She was indicted for attempted hindering prosecution and arrested on Thursday.
Aaron Scott Hume, “King Mojo,” 36, of 27 Althea Dr, Carriere. Hume was arrested for probation violation with MDOC on Thursday.
Gauge Hannon Normand, “King Buck,” 24, of Cary Byrd Rd. Normand was arrested for an MDOC probation violation on Thursday.
George Austin Jones, 33, of 6 Easy St., Picayune, was arrested for an MDOC probation violation on Thursday.
Alisha Lauren Craft, 28, of 122 Curlie Seal Rd. in Picayune, was located during the arrest of Latin Kings suspects and taken into custody on Thursday for probation violation.
Taylor Sanford, 25, of 99 Lake Lane, Picayune, is an alleged known associate of the Latin Kings. Sanford was arrested on Jan. 12, 2019 for possession of drug paraphernalia and traffic related offenses.
Devin Brousse, “King GI,” 27, of 15A Division Street, Picayune, is currently wanted for two counts of sale of methamphetamine, one count of sale of heroin, and indictments for conspiracy to sell a controlled substance, sale of a controlled substance, and criminal street gang activity. A hold has been placed on Brousse by MDOC for probation violation, the release states.
Patty Dragon, 55, of 129 Rovira Rd., Carriere, is Kolby Dragon’s mother. Patty Dragon is currently wanted for an indictment for attempted hindering prosecution. The release states that Dragon has agreed to turn herself in through her lawyer, but as of press time had not done so.
Allison said this investigation is ongoing. He asks the community to report any suspected gang activity to the Sheriff’s’ Department.
He said that his team will, “stay on top of any gang activity to come into this county.”
