Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- A 28-year-old man pleaded guilty to charges connecting him and 10 others to gang activity in the city of Syracuse from at least 2003 through May 2012.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Kenneth Jackson, of Syracuse, was part of the V-Not Gang and engaged in racketeering activity, including murder, drug trafficking and robbery.
Jackson is the third defendant to plead guilty in the case.
Jackson, who was also known as KAROME, an acronym for "Killer Affiliated Ruler Over Many Enemies," admitted to his involvement in many acts, including possessing crack cocaine, participating in a gang fight at the Juke Box Bar.
The indictment alleges that Jackson and other members of the V-Not Gang maintained a specific area within the City of Syracuse to distribute drugs, such as cocaine and marijuana. It further alleges that Jackson and other gang members protected that area with violence, obtained drugs from various dealers, projected a violent attitude, used graffiti, hand signs and other signage to signify their gang affiliation and routinely carried guns.
One murder, 10 shootings, gun possession and drug distribution and possession were also noted in the indictment.
The murder charge stems from a deadly shooting in 2010, when gang member Kahari Smith shot and killed Kihary Blue on I-81 as part of an ongoing feud between the V-Not and Bricktown gangs.
When sentenced, Jackson faces up to life in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
