KILLING RING OPERATION IS SUSPECTED OF 50 DRUG-RELATED SLAYINGS clifford jones gang

[The Streets Don't Love You Back]

BUST REELS IN LEADERSHIP OF ALLEGED KILLING RING
OPERATION IS SUSPECTED OF 50 DRUG-RELATED SLAYINGS
Detroit Free Press (MI) - Friday, February 26, 1993
Author: CHRISTOPHER COOK Free Press Staff Writer , Free Press Staff Writers ROBERT
MUSIAL and , JEFFREY S. GHANNAM contributed to this report.
Federal agents Thursday swept up leaders of an alleged ring with 100 soldiers they believe
responsible for more than 50 contract and free-lance hits in the metro area, mostly of other drug
dealers whose wares they stole and sold.
Agents of the U.S. Treasury Department's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms arrested
Clifford Jones , the alleged leader, six of his alleged lieutenants and nine others believed to be
either hit men, affiliated drug dealers or clients. Two other people still were being sought.
All those arrested were jailed without bond on various narcotics, firearms and conspiracy
charges. U.S. Attorney Stephen Markman said he would seek more serious charges later in what
he termed a murder conspiracy.
Law enforcement officials say the so-called Clifford Jones organization was paid $7,500 to
$25,000 each for at least 50 contract hits. They say the group has been active, mostly on Detroit's
east side, since 1984.
The group accepted contracts for hits in Farmington Hills and Southfield, but those were
thwarted by law enforcement officers, agents said.
Bernard LaForest, agent-in-charge of ATF's Detroit office, said Jones sometimes settled debts
for drug dealers one day, then killed them and took their drugs and money the next. He said
Jones is so feared that some drug dealers sentenced to long prison terms refuse to acknowledge
that they even knew who he is.
Markman called the Jones gang "one of the most violent, brutal and ruthless organizations"
Detroit has seen in a generation.
ATF agents arrested Jones on Thursday morning at a three- bedroom bungalow in the 20200
block of Roscommon in Harper Woods -- a neat, trim home valued at about $75,000, which
belongs to Darlene Harrell. Federal agents say she and Jones have two children together.
Neighbors expressed shock. "I didn't think there was anything like that happening in Harper
Woods," said Helmie Carlson.
Eleanor Eichbrecht found it frightening: "They said he is a hit man. But I never saw him over
there before. This is pretty weird for Harper Woods."
LaForest said a three-year investigation led to Thursday's arrests.
Detroit Police Chief Stanley Knox said he could not say why federal agents, not his officers,
caught the alleged murder-for-hire ring.
Federal authorities believe Jones or his associates are responsible for the October 1990 murder
of Demetrius Holloway, whom authorities said then controlled four-fifths of Detroit's cocaine
trade. No one has yet been charged in that murder.
Holloway was fatally shot as he shopped at the Broadway clothing store, two blocks from Detroit
police headquarters. He had $14,000 in cash and a .32-caliber pistol in his pocket.
Federal agents said Jones is a former lieutenant in Holloway's group who took it over after
Holloway's murder. They say he now employs Holloway's half brother, Glenn Cannon of Mt.
Clemens, also named in federal charges filed Thursday.
ATF agents say Jones ran a cool, efficient machine that operated much like a paramilitary
organization. Hits were carefully planned and rehearsed. Federal wiretaps are said to show Jones
checked and double-checked his information by telephone before moving.
Among those held without bond on assorted charges in the case were Detroit residents Shawn
Ingram, Lester Jones , Kevin Jones , Larry Jones , Sebastion Haliburton, Lathan Hutchins,
Lamar Clark, Joseph Simmons, Joseph Helms, Jerry McKinney, Gregory Johnston, Maggie
Anderson and Wadrekus Amos. Detroiter Johnnie Bernard Mack is already in federal prison.
The case was built on evidence from informants -- some already in prison -- and extensive court
authorized wiretaps.
Agents say that Jones ' organization even killed one of its own members, Levon Sutton. Another
victim, reputed drug dealer Steven Washington, is believed to have been killed on contract by the
group after he came up $150,000 short on a drug debt.
ATF and Drug Enforcement Agency officers listening to phone calls between gang members are
said to have heard Jones and members of his group track the movement of targets, buy guns and
check on the location of cars. They even used beepers to signal Jones the street address of a
Southfield man marked for death.
Detroit community activist John George, who heads the Motor City Blight Busters, said
Thursday he was gratified by the city-wide raids.