4 days ago
Temple man gets two life sentences in federal case
Waco, Tx (FOX 44) – A Temple man has been sentenced to two consecutive life sentences in federal court in a racketeering case.
Demonta Daniels, also known as 'Tado' or 'Tato' was the final defendant in the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization or RICO Act case.
In addition, Daniels also received two 20-year concurrent sentences.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the 26-year-old Daniels conspired with Atorius Marquis Williams aka Lil Man, 28, and Trashawn Lamar Alexander aka Mad Max, 30, to commit four murders, multiple violent assaults, extortion, drug trafficking and armed robberies in furtherance of the criminal enterprise.
Specifically, the indictment alleges four overt acts to include murder—one committed by Williams on Sept. 30, 2017, in Belton; the second, committed by Williams and Alexander on Dec. 10, 2017, in Temple; the third, committed by Williams and Daniels on Jan. 16, 2018, in Temple; and the fourth, committed by Williams, Daniels and Alexander on Jan. 31, 2018, in Temple.
Additionally, prosecutors said the defendants conspired to affect commerce by robbery, committing acts of physical violence and threatening to commit acts of physical violence to steal controlled substances and proceeds from persons engaged in illegal drug distribution. Daniels, Williams and Alexander were also convicted of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, namely robbery. A federal jury found all three men guilty in a February 2024 trial. In September, Williams and Alexander were sentenced to life in federal prison for three counts and a concurrent 20 years in prison for three additional counts.
'The multiple life sentences Daniels will serve, locked away in federal prison, reflects the egregiousness of this defendant's conduct and how important it is to keep violent criminals like Daniels and his co-conspirators off the streets,' said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. 'I extend my deepest respect and gratitude to the AUSAs who prosecuted this case and our law enforcement partners at the local, state and federal levels, who committed countless hours and incredible skill to this investigation, leading to a successful trial verdict and multiple justified sentences.'
Daniels is the tenth and final defendant in this case to be sentenced. Additionally, Dominic Johnson was sentenced in January 2023 to 70 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine; Desmond Wilkerson was sentenced in September 2023 to 71 months in prison for racketeering conspiracy; James Roy Whitfield Jr was sentenced on Feb. 13 to 102 months in prison for one count of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of aiding and abetting; Jason Mayse was sentenced on Feb. 13 to 40 months for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana; Jyaraciel Whitfield was sentenced in September 2023 to 144 months in prison for one count of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of aiding and abetting; Christopher Meyers was sentenced in August 2022 to 144 months in prison for racketeering conspiracy; and Reginald Williams was sentenced in September 2023 to 96 months in prison for one count of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of aiding and abetting.
The FBI, Temple Police Department, Belton Police Department, Bell County Organized Crime Unit, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Cameron Police Department, and Hearne Police Department investigated the case with assistance from the Killeen Police Department and Bell County Sheriff's Department.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
