Known as a member of the Chicago street gang faction, Goonie Boss/Goonie Gang, Javion Bush, 23, has been sentenced to six years in federal prison for retaliating against witnesses who cooperated with the government in a criminal investigation into the gang's activities, according to the DOJ's U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois. The sentencing of Bush seems to mark the end of the reign of terror perpetrated by the notorious gang on Chicago's South Side.
In 2021, Bush posted a threatening image on Facebook, naming the two cooperating individuals and stating, "All rats must di (sic)." He also directly threatened one of the cooperators via Facebook Messenger. The two cooperators had testified before a federal grand jury investigating the Goonie gang's activities, which had been ongoing for several years.
The gang's operation was halted through concerted efforts by law enforcement, including the convictions of numerous members and associates. Most notably, three Goonie leaders were convicted this summer of racketeering conspiracy after a five-week trial as reported in the Chicago Sun-Times. Their conviction is a significant victory considering the gang's violent history.
Between 2014 and 2016, the gang members were responsible for various fatal shootings while terrorizing the Englewood neighborhood on Chicago's South Side. Despite federal authorities' characterization of the gang as a relatively small faction, it controlled only a few blocks of their Englewood neighborhood and did not seem to be involved in drug trafficking or other money-making enterprises typically associated with street gangs.
Romeo Blackman, Terrence Smith, and Jolicious Turman, the three convicted Goonie leaders, faced charges for racketeering conspiracy. Romeo Blackman and Terrence Smith face mandatory life sentences, while Jolicious Turman faces at least 20 years. These incidents provide insight into the gang's ruthless behavior and the importance of securing convictions for the leaders.
The trial displayed the horrifying extent of the gang's crimes, with evidence presented from nearly a dozen murders and multiple shootings. Jurors were shown social media posts in which gang members bragged about shooting rivals. Such material emphasizes the brazen nature of the Goonie Gang's violent acts.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Albert Berry III emphasized the significance of witnesses in uncovering the truth and argued that witness protection is of utmost importance, as shown in the Department of Justice's announcement. In the sentencing memorandum, Berry asserted, "Witnesses should be protected at all costs and threatening them should be sanctioned swiftly and severely."
The Goonie Gang's downfall was a result of collaboration between federal and local authorities. Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Robert W. "Wes" Wheeler Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Fred Waller, Interim Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department, all announced the sentencing of Javion Bush, representing a partnership that proved vital in dismantling the Goonie Gang and bringing its members to justice.
