The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Philadelphia released the below information:
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney
Jacqueline C. Romero announced that a Superseding Indictment was unsealed today
in relation to the murder of Philadelphia Police Corporal James “Jimmy”
O’Connor, posthumously promoted to Sergeant. The 31-count Superseding
Indictment includes a RICO conspiracy, three additional counts of murder, nine
non-fatal shootings, and related charges for Hassan Elliott, a/k/a “Haz,” age
25; Khalif Sears, a/k/a “Leaf,” a/k/a “Lil Leaf,” age 21; and two previously
unnamed defendants, Kelvin Jiminez a/k/a “Nip,” age 32; and Dominique Parker,
a/k/a “Dom,” age 31, all of Philadelphia.
The original Indictment charged the murder of Sergeant O’Connor,
as well as related drug trafficking and firearms offenses.
The Superseding Indictment charges all four defendants with:
- conspiracy
to participate in a racketeering (RICO) enterprise (1 count); and
- conspiracy
to distribute a controlled substance (1 count).
Additional charges include:
- murder
in aid of racketeering (4 counts);
- assault
in aid of racketeering (9 counts);
- attempted
assault in aid of racketeering (2 counts);
- possession
of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking (1 count);
- using,
carrying, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during a crime of
violence (5 counts);
- murder
in the course of using, carrying, and discharging a firearm (4 counts);
- possession
with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance (1
count);
- maintaining
a drug involved premises (1 count); and
- possession
of a firearm by a felon (2 counts).
The Superseding Indictment alleges that the defendants were
members of a violent drug trafficking organization known as “1700 Scattergood,”
which operated in the Frankford section of Northeast Philadelphia. The
defendants allegedly sold large quantities of narcotics over a multi-year
period, using violence and threats of violence to protect their reputation and
drug territory. The Superseding Indictment alleges that in furtherance of that
conspiracy, Elliott and others killed Kaseem Rogers on December 3, 2018; Tyrone
Tyree on March 1, 2019; and Dontae Walker on August 22, 2019.
On March 13, 2020, Elliott, Sears, and others previously
indicted were inside a stash house on the 1600 block of Bridge Street when
Sergeant O’Connor and other members of the Philadelphia Police Department’s
SWAT team arrived with a homicide warrant for Elliott related to the March 2019
murder of Tyrone Tyree. As Sergeant O’Connor and his fellow officers ascended
the staircase to the second floor of the residence and announced their presence
multiple times, Elliott allegedly fired a semi-automatic assault rifle 16
times, striking and killing Sergeant O’Connor.
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum possible penalty of
lifetime imprisonment. In addition, contained within the Superseding Indictment
is a Notice of Special Findings for defendant Elliott for each of the four
charges of murder while using or carrying a firearm. These Notices make Elliott
eligible for the death penalty.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms, and Explosives and the Philadelphia Police Department, and is being
prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Diviny, Ashley
Martin, and Lauren Stram.
An
indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is
presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Updated March 31, 2023
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