Jefferson County Criminal District Attorney Bob Wortham announced today that the last defendants of the “12/24” street gang from Port Arthur pleaded guilty in Judge Raquel West’s 252nd Criminal District Court.
The “12/24” gang conducted multiple vehicle and home burglaries throughout mid and south Jefferson County in the summer of 2019.Members took firearms from vehicles and used them while committing home burglaries and drug trafficking.After several gang members were arrested during a home burglary in Port Neches, a multi-agency investigation led police to a house on Charlotte Street in Port Arthur.A search warrant was executed at that address, and numerous stolen guns, narcotics, and items taken in the burglaries were recovered. Subsequent cell phone searches revealed more evidence of criminal activity.
Eight gang members were indicted and charged with numerous felony offenses including Burglary of a Habitation, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Theft of a Firearm, and Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity. These include:
Christopher Como, 18, of Port Arthur; convicted of multiple counts of Burglary of a Habitation, sentenced to 9 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Brenden Shields, 19, of Port Arthur; convicted of Burglary of a Habitation and Theft of a Firearm, sentenced to 5 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Henry Sara, 17, of Port Arthur; convicted of Burglary of a Habitation and Theft of a Firearm, sentenced to 6 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Christopher Delasbor, 19, of Port Arthur, convicted of Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity and Burglary of a Habitation, sentenced to 6 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Several other gang members have pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing at this
time. Members called themselves “12/24”, indicating that they were working twelve months a year, twenty four hours a day, to commit crimes to make money.
“The conclusion of this investigation and subsequent convictions breaks up a violent group. Several local and federal agencies combined resources to take multiple dangerous offenders off of the streets, and Jefferson County is safer for their effort.” said Assistant Criminal District Attorney Luke Nichols
The United States Drug Enforcement Agency, Port Arthur Police Department, Port Neches Police Department, Nederland Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, and US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives all coordinated in this investigation.