'Stop Snitching's' ‘Skinny Suge’ indicted in gang bust
Feb 26, 2008 by Luke Broadwater
BALTIMORE - On Baltimore City’s streets, he’s known as “Skinny Suge,” the charismatic host of the original “Stop Snitching” DVD.
But federal prosecutors said Ronnie Thomas went too far when, two weeks ago, he threatened to retaliate against a store owner who refused to sell the “Stop Snitching 2” DVD.
Thomas was indicted as part of a major bust of 28 members of the TTP Bloods gang, which authorities said carried out murders, shootings and robberies, dealt drugs and intimidated witnesses.
Rodney Bethea, producer of the DVDs, called federal prosecutors’ claim about Thomas’ action “impossible.”
“... There’s no way in the world that could have happened,” he said.
“Why would you have to threaten someone to sell the DVD, when everyone wants to sell the DVD?”
Of the suspected gang members indicted, 18 are from Baltimore City, six from Baltimore County, three from Hagerstown and one from Salisbury.
The indictment alleges gang members committed five slayings, and its leader reported to California on the group’s expansion.
In a letter to a TTP leader in Compton, Calif., Maryland TTP Bloods gang leader Steve Willock 28, allegedly wrote, “We have about 3-4 territories in Baltimore, Md (BodyMore) and we have blocks in different counties in Md, also territories in the Eastern Shore,” the indictments state.
A suspected gang member, Thomas is alleged to have helped others sell drugs.
On Feb. 14, he was upset that a store owner would not sell the “Stop Snitching 2” DVD, and allegedly said gang members would attack the store, according to the indictment.
Each of the 21 defendants charged in the drug-trafficking conspiracy faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Each of the 26 defendants charged in the racketeering conspiracy faces up to 20 years in prison.
The gang's alleged leader, Steve Willock, 28, of Hagerstown ran the gang from prison in Hagerstown since 2000, prosecutors said. In 2005, the gang acquired the sought-after recognition of its more-established counterpart in Compton, Calif., which "sponsored" the Maryland gang, according to the indictment.
The Maryland TTP members wore the California gang's trademark red bandanas and caps, fought members of the Crips, a rival gang, and used a language code to discuss gang business, according to the indictment.
It says, for example, that in their vernacular, a "911" is a gang meeting; "baby love" means money; "999" is a reference to someone who is cooperating with law enforcement; "pup" and "peanut" are code words for pledges; police officers are "roscoes"; "birthday boy" is a prospective robbery victim; and a person "on the menu" or "labeled food" is marked for a serious beating or slaying.
