Opinion ID: 429180
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Government's Memorandum on Sentencing

Text: 6 In its memorandum on sentencing, the prosecution renewed its charges that Lemon was a member of the Black Hebrew sect and that his crime was part of a pattern of crimes committed for the benefit of the Black Hebrew community. 6 The prosecution argued that, although it was his first offense, the defendant should be given a substantial sentence because it would deter him and others involved in the group from such illegal activity, and because the defendant had failed to respond to the prosecution's request that he cooperate in its investigation of illegal activity among the Black Hebrews. 7 7 In support of its allegations that Lemon was a member of the Black Hebrews and committed his offense for the benefit of the group, the government referred back to its memorandum on the bond review motion, which stated: 8 The defendant, at the time of his arrest was in the company of Bruce Green and Bruce Stewart both of whom have been identified through sources as members of the Black Hebrews. Green was wanted, at the time of the defendant's arrest, for a check charge in Alexandria, Virginia. Stewart is alleged to be the boyfriend of Warrena Bostick who has been identified as a Black Hebrew, and who is wanted for a burglary in the District of Columbia in which a quantity of blank airline tickets were stolen. 9 The car in which the defendant was riding in at the time of his arrest was registered to Beverly Caro another suspected Black Hebrew. Ms. Caro has been observed by members of law enforcement at a meeting house frequented by Black Hebrews and a convention of Black Hebrews. 10 The checks the defendant is alleged to have deposited in his account are the same as the checks allegedly used in a similar scheme by Angela Kegler. Kegler, at the time of her arrest, was attending a meeting of the Women's Auxiliary of the Kingdom of God (the Black Hebrews) and she was dressed in the garb of the sect. 11 Terry Warr has also been accused of passing one of the stolen checks from Double J Welding Company. Warr has been identified as a member of the Black Hebrew sect. 12 The defendant used the address 4455 G Street, S.E., as his address when arrested in Ohio. The address on G Street has been identified as a clandestine meeting house for members of the Black Hebrews sect and numbers of known members of the sect have been observed frequenting that location in the past. 8 13 Counsel for the government made additional claims in its sentencing allocution: 14 a) Myrtle Washington, a twice convicted felon and a member of the cult has been in court monitoring the progress of the defendant's case; 15 b) Terry Warr has been arrested for a scheme similar to the defendant's involving a Double J Welding check. Warr is a self-admitted member of the Black Hebrews. 9 16 The government argued that the defendant's alleged membership in the Black Hebrews was significant to sentencing because his crime was part of a larger pattern of economic crimes committed by Black Hebrews to fund their repatriation to Israel. The government again referred to its earlier bond review memorandum: 17 A number of members of the Black Hebrew sect are fugitives from justice. 18 The FBI lists at least twenty-four individuals, identified as Black Hebrews, who are currently being sought on arrest and bench warrants. 19 Black Hebrews involved in criminal activity commonly tend toward crimes of fraud including stolen airline tickets, fraudulent credit card use, and bank fraud. These types of crimes give them the ability to move freely throughout the United States with little or no actual cost to them. Further, a number of the Black Hebrews have been identified as having obtained passports fraudulently. 20 The execution of search warrants at known Black Hebrew premises have led to the discovery of numerous bogus identifications many of which matched credit cards and/or checks discovered at the same time. 21 The Black Hebrews have houses throughout the United States where a fugitive can receive food, clothing and shelter. 22 Source information indicates that Black Hebrews charged with crimes in the United States are provided with the wherewithall, i.e., money and documents necessary to take them to Israel where a Black Hebrew community is currently residing, many of whom are fugitives. 10 23 The government attached to its sentencing memorandum a collection of newspaper and magazine articles concerning the Black Hebrews, their beliefs and organization, as well as their alleged involvement in illegal activities. On the basis of the above information, the government argued that, given the personal and group motivations for this crime ... a substantial period of incarceration is required as a determent [sic] to future conduct of this type by the defendant and others involved with him. 11