Hobos ‘super gang’ tied to 9 murders; lengthy trial set to begin
Federal prosecutors included this photo of Gabriel Bush (fourth from left) in a court filing. They say it is from a trip to Hawaii with five friends that Bush paid for. Bush is among the members of the Hobos gang whose trial starts this week.
Jon Seidel
@SeidelContent | email
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As they planted the seeds of Chicago’s “new breed of street gang” more than a decade ago, its South Side leaders allegedly uttered these simple words: “Man, we Hobo.”
Hobos “just sleep and rob,” they said.
Now, the nickname is inked on the skin of the gang’s elites along with the words, “The Earth Is Our Turf.” But the ruthless and exclusive Hobos crew, an alliance of deadly street gangs forged in the now-demolished Robert Taylor Homes, didn’t stop with robbery, the feds say. Not even close.
Instead, the so-called “super gang” brought a reign of terror down on Chicago’s South and West sides between 2004 and 2013, federal prosecutors say. Its members allegedly held a teen for ransom, tortured suspected drug dealers with an iron, robbed NBA players and even threatened a police officer inside a Cook County courthouse.
Most significantly, the Hobos are accused of committing nine murders — among them the slayings of informants Keith Daniels and Wilbert Moore. But now, prosecutors are set to put seven Hobos on trial for racketeering Wednesday, including undisputed leader Gregory “Bowlegs” Chester and alleged assassin Paris “Poleroski” Poe.
Federal prosecutors included this photo in a court filing; they say it shows Hobos leader Gregory Chester’s tattoo declaring the gang’s slogan: “The Earth Is Our Turf.”
The significant street-gang trial in the 14th-floor courtroom of U.S. District John J. Tharp Jr. could last months and has created security concerns around the Dirksen Federal Courthouse. Prosecutors persuaded Tharp to keep jurors anonymous, records show. The U.S. Marshals also asked the judge to keep the Hobos shackled during the trial. Tharp declined.
The trial is scheduled to start Tuesday, with jury selection expected to begin Wednesday.
Prosecutors believe Daniels was murdered to keep him from testifying, but the judge has ruled Daniels may speak from the grave through grand jury testimony offered before his death.
The feds are also worried about the safety of other witnesses, and a U.S. Marshals supervisor told the judge last week the agency is investigating alleged threats made toward people under marshal protection in connection with the case.
A grand jury first indicted the Hobos in 2013. Their trial will commence while Chicago grapples with gun violence that has sent this year’s murder tally soaring.
The Hobos’ defense attorneys complain in court filings that their clients are being treated “like a dangerous animal.” But that would be a stark contrast from the high-flying lifestyle the feds say the Hobos once enjoyed. The gang amassed a fleet of luxury cars, became elite gamblers and even took tropical vacations in Florida and Hawaii, court records show.
More at site: Hobos 'super gang' tied to 9 murders; lengthy trial set to begin
These guys formed out of rival gangs. Disturbing descriptions of crimes in main text.
Federal prosecutors included this photo of Gabriel Bush (fourth from left) in a court filing. They say it is from a trip to Hawaii with five friends that Bush paid for. Bush is among the members of the Hobos gang whose trial starts this week.
Jon Seidel
@SeidelContent | email
Sign-Up for Chicago Sun-Times News & Politics Newsletter
Receive News and Politics related Updates Sign-Up
As they planted the seeds of Chicago’s “new breed of street gang” more than a decade ago, its South Side leaders allegedly uttered these simple words: “Man, we Hobo.”
Hobos “just sleep and rob,” they said.
Now, the nickname is inked on the skin of the gang’s elites along with the words, “The Earth Is Our Turf.” But the ruthless and exclusive Hobos crew, an alliance of deadly street gangs forged in the now-demolished Robert Taylor Homes, didn’t stop with robbery, the feds say. Not even close.
Instead, the so-called “super gang” brought a reign of terror down on Chicago’s South and West sides between 2004 and 2013, federal prosecutors say. Its members allegedly held a teen for ransom, tortured suspected drug dealers with an iron, robbed NBA players and even threatened a police officer inside a Cook County courthouse.
Most significantly, the Hobos are accused of committing nine murders — among them the slayings of informants Keith Daniels and Wilbert Moore. But now, prosecutors are set to put seven Hobos on trial for racketeering Wednesday, including undisputed leader Gregory “Bowlegs” Chester and alleged assassin Paris “Poleroski” Poe.
Federal prosecutors included this photo in a court filing; they say it shows Hobos leader Gregory Chester’s tattoo declaring the gang’s slogan: “The Earth Is Our Turf.”
The significant street-gang trial in the 14th-floor courtroom of U.S. District John J. Tharp Jr. could last months and has created security concerns around the Dirksen Federal Courthouse. Prosecutors persuaded Tharp to keep jurors anonymous, records show. The U.S. Marshals also asked the judge to keep the Hobos shackled during the trial. Tharp declined.
The trial is scheduled to start Tuesday, with jury selection expected to begin Wednesday.
Prosecutors believe Daniels was murdered to keep him from testifying, but the judge has ruled Daniels may speak from the grave through grand jury testimony offered before his death.
The feds are also worried about the safety of other witnesses, and a U.S. Marshals supervisor told the judge last week the agency is investigating alleged threats made toward people under marshal protection in connection with the case.
A grand jury first indicted the Hobos in 2013. Their trial will commence while Chicago grapples with gun violence that has sent this year’s murder tally soaring.
The Hobos’ defense attorneys complain in court filings that their clients are being treated “like a dangerous animal.” But that would be a stark contrast from the high-flying lifestyle the feds say the Hobos once enjoyed. The gang amassed a fleet of luxury cars, became elite gamblers and even took tropical vacations in Florida and Hawaii, court records show.
More at site: Hobos 'super gang' tied to 9 murders; lengthy trial set to begin
These guys formed out of rival gangs. Disturbing descriptions of crimes in main text.
