Last of 11 Convicted in Charges Stemming from Rap Video filmed at Lakewood Park

HOUSTON, TX -- A 31-year-old man has entered a guilty plea for his role in a felon in possession of firearms conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan Patrick.

Ivory Vershone Brown is the last of 11 to be convicted in the federal charges that resulted from a rap video filmed in Northeast Houston’s Lakewood Park March 28, 2018. During the video shoot, numerous criminal street gang members – all convicted felons - gathered in the park to film a music video promoting gangs in Houston all brandishing firearms on the basketball court.

Authorities received a 911 call reporting a group of suspicions people shooting a video with guns at the location and dispatched officers to the scene. As they arrived, the majority of the group fled the area. Law enforcement subsequently located eight loaded firearms abandoned at the park.

The music video was released May 20, 2018, via YouTube which WorldStarHipHop.com promoted. Authorities were able to identify each convicted felon and documented gang member who was in possession of firearms in the video. They compared each firearm recovered at the scene to the firearms the defendants held and identified similar characteristics of each.

The lead rapper in the music video - Warren Brown II aka NFL Cartel Bo, 20, of Houston, previously pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Pleading guilty to the same charge were Kenneth Fontenot 22, Garrett Winn, 31, Devonte Haynes, 26, Joshua Amos, 31, Keithric Lewis, 31, Frenton Price, 33, and Marces Randolph, 30, all also of Houston.

Additionally, Roland Labome, 34, and Jerrell Grant, 37, entered their pleas to conspiracy to unlawfully possess firearms by a felon. They also reside in Houston.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Atlas accepted the final plea today. Brown’s sentencing has been set for Dec. 18, 2019. At that time, he faces up to five years in federal prison as do Labome and Grant. The remaining defendants face a maximum of 10 years imprisonment. In addition, all defendants could potentially be ordered to pay fines up to $250,000.

The remaining defendants are set for sentencing between Dec. 16-18, 2019.

With the exception of Winn, Amos, Price, Randolph and Labome, all have been and will remain in custody pending those hearings.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Houston Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Britni Cooper and Lisa Collins are prosecuting the case.