Notorious Gang Leader Damion Baker Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Crack Cocaine Trafficking in Watts Area

Accident – Death – Obituary News : One of the leaders of a notorious gang in South Los Angeles has been sentenced to prison for leading a crack cocaine trafficking ring in the Watts area, the United States Department of Justice announced on Friday.

Damion Baker, a 46-year-old resident of Los Angeles, has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for his role in manufacturing and distributing crack cocaine within the gang’s territory in the Nickerson Gardens public housing projects in Watts.

Baker pleaded guilty in February to charges of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine, as well as one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. His arrest took place in April 2021 as part of an indictment targeting the gang, which is associated with the Bloods.

According to the Department of Justice, Baker organized and led the drug trafficking operation from August 2019 to May 2020. He arranged orders from cocaine suppliers, and he and his fellow gang members processed the pure cocaine into crack, which they sold throughout their territory. Additionally, they would sell the processed crack cocaine back to the original cocaine supplier.

As the lead defendant, Baker oversaw the packaging and delivery of the drugs and managed the stash houses used by the gang to store the proceeds. One of these stash houses was located within the housing project.

In addition to the drug charges, Baker admitted to possessing a firearm, which he used to protect his operation. However, he was prohibited from possessing a gun due to past felony convictions, including charges for possession of cocaine and domestic violence.

As part of his plea agreement, Baker agreed to forfeit the firearm and more than $44,000 in cash that was seized during the search of his home in the Harbor Gateway area, as well as a home in Compton.

Prosecutors described Baker as the “most culpable and essential figure” in the drug ring, which has had a significant impact on the city, particularly in the Watts area.

Baker is one of 12 defendants named in the DOJ indictment, and the other 11 have either pleaded guilty or signed plea deals. They are all expected to be sentenced in the near future. Tony Carr, who was identified as Baker’s second-in-command, pleaded guilty to related charges in July and has been sentenced to over 15 years in prison.

The case was investigated by the FBI’s violent gang task force, which consists of local law enforcement agencies.

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