12 gang members facing 118 charges in Columbus burglary ring, police say
A four-month investigation has led to the arrest of 12 suspects, including a 12- year-old in connection with 33 residential burglaries and the recovery of $159,840 in stolen property tied to gang activity, Columbus police said Wednesday.
Police Maj. Gil Slouchick of the Investigative Services Bureau said the probe conducted by the department’s Burglary Theft Division ended with the 12 arrests, eight adults and four juveniles totaling 118 charges . The suspects are accused in firearms- related crimes that occurred over the last several months.
All suspects are charged with criminal gang activity along with multiple other charges. Many have been identified as members of the Zohannon gang, a subset of the Gangster Disciples , the largest gang operating in Columbus.
To date, the investigation has cleared 33 residential burglaries, seven auto thefts, one burglary second degree and the seizure of eight guns. Police said $159,840 in stolen property was recovered .
Of the four juveniles arrested, two are 16-years-old, one is 14 and the youngest is 12 years old. In two burglaries, occupants were shot at by the suspects.
Thomas Gregory Farley, 18, was in Recorder’s Court on Sept. 19 to face three counts of burglary, two counts of attempted burglary and one count of participation in criminal gang activity. On July 24, burglaries occurred on Hatcher Drive , Fawndale Drive and attempted burglaries on Land Drive and Lokey Drive.
Other gang members charged in the same break-ins were identified as Bobby Thomas, 20; Itavius Jones, 19; and a 16-year-old boy. Jones has been accused as the driver of a stolen Ford Escape two days before the vehicle was used in several residential burglaries on Aug. 23.
At age 26, Keithon Word is the oldest among the suspects. He was charged on Sept. 21 on theft by receiving stolen property which included a TV, a gun and other items valued at more than $600.
Trendarious Thomas, 22, was charged after his arrest on Sept. 2. Police said he admitted involvement in multiple burglaries. At his home, police said they found furniture, a television, jewelry and computer valued at more than $9,000.
Police identified the adults and juveniles in the gang activity with number of charges:
Thomas Farley, 18, six charges
16-year-old male, 21 charges
12-year-old male, 10 charges
Kaleel Jones, 17, 18 charges
Itavious Jones, 19, 27 charges
Tyler Marshall, 17, seven charges
Clayton Perry, 17, two charges
16-year-old male, seven charges
14-year-old male, four charges
Trendarious Thomas,22, four charges
Trent Thomas, 17, four charges
Keithon Word, 26, eight charges
This story was originally published September 27, 2017 at 3:27 PM with the headline "12 gang members facing 118 charges in Columbus burglary ring, police say."