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Three alleged 'Ponds Army' gang members sentenced in narcotics plea deals

Posted at 5:18 PM, Jul 17, 2017
and last updated 2017-07-18 14:18:28-04

INDIANAPOLIS  Three alleged members of the “Ponds Army” gang were sentenced Friday in separate plea deals on narcotics charges.

Leon Devonta Craig, 22, Greg Lamont William Jr., 21, and Joseph Hudson, 22, entered guilty pleas Friday to one count each of dealing in a narcotic drug.

All three were sentenced to three years, with two suspended and the remaining year to be served on home detention.

As part of the plea deal, prosecutors agreed to dismiss charges of dealing in a narcotic drug, dealing in cocaine and possession of a narcotic drug against the men, as well as additional charges of criminal recklessness and theft of a firearm against William.

The men were three of more than a dozen alleged members of the Ponds Army gang arrested in October 2015 on allegations of being part of a heroin-trafficking ring.

CLICK HERE TO SEE ALLEGED MEMBERS OF THE PONDS ARMY 

As part of the investigation, police raided a number of northwest-side properties, including a daycare where narcotics were found.  Thirty five guns and an estimated $15,000 in cash were confiscated, along with undisclosed amounts of heroin and cocaine.

FULL STORY | ‘Ponds Army’ gang raided by police; IMPD employee helped members

One of the people arrested as part of the investigation was DeAngra Williams, a civilian employee of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department who was accused of passing information about guns and confidential informants from the department’s databases to the gang.

Williams was initially facing a slew of charges, including dealing in narcotics and cocaine, unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon and 34 counts of release of criminal intelligence information.

CALL 6 | ‘Ponds Army’ received internal police info from civilian employee

In March, Williams pleaded guilty to the firearms charge and one count of release of criminal intelligence information and was sentenced to six years in community corrections, with three suspended. Her time was allocated to be served with two years on home detention and the third year on probation.

In exchange for her plea, prosecutors dropped the remaining charges against her.

Two of Craig’s other co-defendants in the October 2015 case have also seen charges dismissed:

  • Stacy Offett: Charges of dealing in narcotics and cocaine dismissed on Feb. 23.
  • Jason Simmons: Charge of dealing in narcotics and cocaine dismissed on May 19.

MORE FROM THE CRIME BEAT | Mounting problems in case against ‘Grundy Crew’ | Alleged ‘Grundy Crew’ member to get at least 5 years in community corrections | No prison time in plea deal for father of alleged 'Grundy Crew' leader | Murder charges dropped against alleged Grundy Crew ringleader | Another 'Grundy Crew' member agrees to plea deal; will have gang, conspiracy charges dismissed | Alleged 'Grundy Crew' hitman found not guilty in double murder