Cell phones lead cops to alleged gangsters

The seizure of three cellular phones from prison inmates is said to have assisted investigators who have been probing the involvement of alleged members of the Westmoreland-based Kings Valley gang in a raft of dangerous crimes.

Seven alleged members of the Kings Valley gang are facing serious charges following a yearlong multi-agency investigation into their activities. They were arrested on May 6, following an operation carried out by members of the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigation Branch (C-TOC), Specialised Operations Branch, the Caribbean Search Centre and the Canine Division.

Kevin Wilson, 38, otherwise called 'Bomson' of Kings Valley; Keneisha Moodie, 19; Orville Jones, 37, otherwise called 'Bigga' or 'Biggs' of Little London; Joel Rankine, 32, otherwise called 'Andem', of Pleasant Park; Shamari Lindo, 23, of Truro district; Derval Williams, otherwise called 'Lukey'; and Christopher Grant have been charged with being part of a criminal organisation under the Criminal Justice (Suppresion of Criminal Organisation) Act.

Williams, who the police said is the leader of the gang, and Grant were also charged with murder and conspiracy to murder. Moodie, the lone female picked up during the operation, was charged with illegal possession of ammunition after 15 rounds of ammunition were reportedly found in her possession at the time of the raid.

It is the second time in three years that the police are arresting persons they deem to be members of the Kings Valley gang. Last July, Chief Justice Bryan Sykes freed six men - Carlington Godfrey, Rannaldo McKennis, Williams, Christon Grant, Lindell Powell and Copeland Sankey after they were charged under the Anti-Gang Act in 2018.

The police said that C-TOC commenced a probe following the seizure of the cellphone. The probe reportedly found that several crimes to include murder, shooting, extortion, larceny among others had been committed by the Kings Valley gang, subsequent to the dismissal of a case against them in 2020.

During the investigation, an auto-parts company was ordered to be temporarily closed by the court to facilitate an ongoing probe into the company's involvement with stolen vehicles. This resulted in the owner - Ted Robinson - being charged with five counts of unlawful possession of property and receiving stolen property among other charges.

Police said that five motor vehicles were seized at the premises following incidents of murders, shootings or robberies.