A 31-year-old Washington, D.C. man who led a criminal gang based in Howard County was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison, the U.S. attorney's office in Baltimore announced.
Rouchell Chesson, who was sentenced by U.S. District Judge George L. Russell III, acknowledged in a plea agreement that he was a leader in the "Tree Top Piru" or "TTP" set of the Bloods, a national criminal street gang, according to prosecutors. Chesson, also known as "Black," directed, participated in or knew about robberies and gun and illegal drug sales conducted by gang members, according to the plea agreement. He also instructed new gang members in the organization's rules, disciplined members and granted membership, prosecutors said.
Chesson was one of 19 defendants who have pleaded guilty for their roles in racketeering and drug conspiracies uncovered by a two-year investigation of the Howard-based Bloods set, prosecutors said The investigation was conducted by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Howard County police.