A Chattanooga, Tennessee man has been sentenced to more than 30 years in prison for a racketeering (RICO) conspiracy involving him and other members of the Simon City Royals gang.
On Thursday afternoon, U. S. District Judge Michael P. Mills sentenced Jonathan Davis, 39, to 365 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Davis was a leader and organizer of the Simon City Royals, a violent prison gang operating primarily in the Mississippi Department of Corrections, but with members and associates acting on their behalf outside of prisons throughout Mississippi, Louisiana, and elsewhere. Through an alliance with the violent Gangster Disciples gang and with a sophisticated structure, the Simon City Royals engaged in a host of criminal activities, including murder, attempted murder, assault, kidnapping, robbery, extortion, witness tampering, money laundering, interstate travel in aid of racketeering, large-scale drug trafficking, and fraud. Court records reflect that Davis personally ordered two murders, which were attempted at his request, and was involved in drug trafficking and money laundering.
The Simon City Royals engaged in widespread drug trafficking, including smuggling large quantities of methamphetamine, marijuana and synthetic marijuana, heroin, and benzodiazepines into dozens of Mississippi state prison facilities. The gang distributed these dangerous substances, including nearly 100% pure crystal methamphetamine, to inmates throughout the prison system.
“Our citizens have every right to expect that criminal gangs will be held accountable for their crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner for the Northern District of Mississippi. “The sentence imposed on one of the leaders of the Simon City Royals is one step towards making our communities safer. Our office will continue to work with local, state and federal partners to see that violent gang members pay for their crimes.”
“ATF and its federal and local partners are dedicated to pursuing and combating those career criminals whose violent criminal activities threaten and severely detract from the welfare of our communities,” said ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. “This is another example of our commitment to work tirelessly to protect our communities and hold accountable those who threaten our safety.”
This case has been investigated by ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Secret Service, FBI Jackson Field Office, Mississippi Department of Corrections, and dozens of local law enforcement agencies across multiple states. The Tupelo Police Department, Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, Benton County Sheriff’s Department, and Tippah County Sheriff’s Department provided valuable assistance.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Stringfellow from the Northern District of Mississippi and Trial Attorney Ben Tonkin of the DOJ’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section.
