Opinion ID: 709030
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Raymond Amerson

Text: 38 Amerson's criminal association with Jerry Lewis dates at least to the early 1980s. Michael Lewis, Jerry Lewis's brother and Carlton Darden's brother-in-law, testified that Amerson was a part of the JLO when he joined in 1980 or 1981 and that Amerson was selling large amounts of T's and blues. Rudy Weaver testified that Amerson asked Weaver to recruit drug dealers from the prison in which Weaver was then incarcerated. Weaver also testified that, after Weaver had been released from prison, Amerson taught him how to create a spot in his car to hide drugs and guns and that Amerson actually installed such a spot in Weaver's car. This was done behind the MSTA building. According to Weaver, Amerson laundered drug money, received large amounts of cocaine, and broke down kilos of cocaine for redistribution at the JLO-managed Star and Crescent Market in 1988 and 1989. During that same time frame, Amerson travelled to Atlanta to pick up cocaine from a JLO source. 39 Amerson was also involved in the violent activities of the JLO. Ronnie Thomas testified that Amerson was involved in the elimination and intimidation of witnesses planning to testify against members of the JLO. Amerson, along with Michael Williams and Jerry Lewis, participated in the pre-killing surveillance of intended victims. Michael Lewis and Earl Parnell testified that Amerson shot and killed Bruce Hat Henry and either killed or participated in the killing of Harold Count Johnson, both loyal associates of rival drug dealer Lidell Bud Green. Lewis and Parnell also testified that Amerson murdered Billy Patton, a drug dealer who competed with the JLO, in late January 1989. After the killing, Amerson and other JLO members gathered at Jerry Lewis's house, toasted Patton's death, and laughed about the murder. 40 In sum, the evidence is clearly sufficient to show that Darden, Hopkins, Seals, and Amerson associated with the JLO, agreed to participate in the affairs of the JLO, and participated in the conduct of the JLO's affairs through patterns of racketeering activity.