Indictments handed down against alleged crime ring members

Joshua Williams, 27, has been arrested after being accused of being part of an organized crime ring that allegedly raided a bank vault and robbed a Galleria area jewelry store. Joshua Williams, 27, has been arrested after being accused of being part of an organized crime ring that allegedly raided a bank vault and robbed a Galleria area jewelry store. Photo: Harris County District Attorney's Office Photo: Harris County District Attorney's Office Image 1 of / 18 Caption Close Indictments handed down against alleged crime ring members 1 / 18 Back to Gallery

Harris County prosecutors have filed organized crime charges against more than a dozen members of an alleged crime ring believed responsible for a wave of recent robberies targeting banks and jewelry stores.

"We are dismantling a violent, high-dollar criminal organization that operates as the new mob," Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said Friday in a statement. "Members of organized criminal rings like this do more damage together than as individuals."

The 14 members of the ring have worked in Houston for several months. Officials with the DA's office said the ring was responsible for the daytime raid of a bank vault and a robbery at a Galleria-area jewelry store, where they smashed the counters and made off with more than $1 million in merchandise.

Authorities said they also can place members of the crime ring at the scene of nine robberies of Houston-area pawn shops.

On Friday, prosecutors said 10 of the crime ring members were already in custody while a search continues for the rest.

Each person charged in the case is facing 15 years to life in state prison if convicted, officials said.

"Dismantling an organization responsible for scores of violent crimes not only makes our community safer, it puts everyone on notice that this violence will not be left unchallenged," said Fred Milanowski, head of the Houston division for the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - one of the organizations that took part in the investigation.

Arrested were: Devan Arterberry, 25; Wiley Smith, 31, Matthew Stamps, 31; Tevin McCray, 24; Jamarcus Jamal Cain, 26; Jeremy Miller, 25; Mary Mosley, 23; Darrell Woods, 34; Joshua Williams, 27 and Edison Ibeabuchi, 20.

The indicted crime ring members who remain at large are Kendric Miller, 27; Kenneth Glenn, 22; Avery Johnson, 24 and Cotrell Pruitt, 28, according to authorities

Anyone with information is asked to contact Houston police at 713-308-3700 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.