 |
|
|
|
Guilty plea in racial arson
10/30/2006
By Jon Murray
The Indianapolis Star
A man accused of directing gang members to torch a home to keep a black family out pleaded guilty this morning and will face 25 years in prison.
Dennis Craig, 31, is accused by prosecutors of being the leader of the 2-1 FATAL gang. That group was connected by police to the May 2005 fire, which quickly spread to four other homes on Indianapolis' Near Southside. Two of the homes were destroyed.
At the time, police said the four gang members arrested in the blaze mistakenly thought a black family would be moving into the home, which was in the 700 block of Terrace Avenue. Craig directed the arson from his own home nearby, prosecutors said. He was on home detention at the time.
This morning Craig pleaded guilty in Marion Superior Court to conspiracy to commit arson, criminal gang activity and being a habitual offender. Helen Marchal, chief counsel to Prosecutor Carl Brizzi, said Craig's plea agreement includes 25 years in prison when he is sentenced Nov. 9.
"Racially motivated gang activities are nothing less than despicable," Brizzi said in a statement.
James Holwager and Michael and Doris Litel have pleaded guilty in the case and are awaiting sentencing.
The gang's name, 2-1 FATAL, stands for two things: twice as big as any other gang, and Faith Among the Almighty Legions.
Call Star reporter Jon Murray at (317) 444-2752.
|
|
|
|
|
