Opinion ID: 709030
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Carlton Darden

Text: 27 Carlton Darden's brother-in-law, Michael Lewis, testified that Darden was criminally involved with Jerry Lewis in the early 1980s when Michael first joined the JLO. At that time, Darden was a leader in the T's and blues trade of the JLO, travelling to Detroit on one occasion to purchase a vast amount of T's. March 15, 1993 Tr. at 52. His involvement in the organization continued at least through early 1989. Lewis testified that Darden was still distributing cocaine in the spring of 1989, both in a housing complex called Cochran Gardens and at his job with the City of St. Louis Parking Meter Division. Lewis also testified that Darden had discussed purchases of cocaine from Rudy Weaver and that Darden believed Weaver might be an informant. Additionally, Lewis stated that $100,000 in cocaine-generated currency was stored by Jerry Lewis at Darden's house. 28 Rudy Weaver testified that Darden purchased cocaine from him, both for personal use and for distribution, from late 1987 through the summer of 1988. According to Weaver, Darden told Weaver that individuals who informed on the JLO (snitches) would be killed. Darden well understood the JLO's potential for violent acts as he had participated in the attempted murder of rival drug dealer Lidell Bud Green and had shot Rochelle Bartlett at Jerry Lewis's behest, see infra pp. 1546-47, because Bartlett said that Lewis was informing on the JLO. 29 Darden's commitment to the goals of the JLO is evident from his willingness to follow Lewis's order to shoot Bartlett and his preoccupation with potential informants. Michael Lewis's testimony and the fact that Jerry Lewis entrusted Darden with large amounts of drug money are sufficient to prove Darden's association with the JLO. Darden's multiple drug deals in violation of state and federal law, using cocaine obtained through the JLO, sufficiently demonstrate his participation in the JLO through a pattern of racketeering activity. His trips to Detroit to purchase T's clearly manifest his agreement to participate in the conduct of the affairs of the JLO.