Members of alleged Baton Rouge gang accused of violent crimes formally charged

Keymonte Avery
·3 min read

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — Members of an alleged gang called “Bleedas” were indicted by a grand jury Thursday.

In a release from the East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney’s Office, the Baton Rouge Police Department started an investigation after two ATM repair technicians were robbed on Dec. 23, 2023, and Jan. 14, 2024. BRPD believes the suspects were involved with the robberies and other illegal activity around Baton Rouge.

Suspects were identified as George Applewhite, Brandon Fleming, Nepton Hatfield, Hubert Jackson, Tremaine Lindsey and Quendez Vancourt.

All suspects were indicted on charges of three counts of armed robbery with a firearm, one count of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit armed robbery and obstruction of justice. The district attorney’s office said all charges include a criminal street gang enhancement.

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Hatfield was charged in a separate indictment on charges of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a machine gun, and possession of a firearm while in the possession of a controlled dangerous substance.

Toderick Woodbridge was charged in a separate indictment on charges of two counts of possession of a machine gun, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and possession of a firearm while in the possession of a controlled dangerous substance.

The East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office joined BRPD to investigate suspected drug trafficking and violence.

Today, several indictments were made possible by hard work, investigation, and intelligence efforts initiated by the Baton Rouge Police Department. The Special Investigations Division responsible, which I formed more than two months ago, was able to link Armed Robberies of ATM technicians to a local violent group named “Bleedas”. Our Detectives were able to link several individuals to this group, which is also responsible for other violent crimes and drug trafficking. I would like to thank District Attorney Hillar Moore and his office for the work they put into in helping to get these very important indictments in today’s Grand Jury.

I have stated that we would use every tool at our disposal, so among other numerous charges, Baton Rouge Police Detectives also charged these Suspects with violating LRS 15:1403 Criminal Street Gangs enhancement, which the Grand Jury also returned indictments on that charge as well. The Baton Rouge Police Department will continue efforts in proactive and intelligence-driven policing, spearheaded by our Uniform Patrol and Special Investigation units. We will continue to do our part to keep Baton Rouge Safe and follow our motto of “One City. One Mission.

BRPD Chief Thomas Morse, Jr.

I want to thank the dedicated Baton Rouge Police Department and the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office special operations teams and investigators who have worked together to apprehend violent actors and take them off our streets and out of our neighborhoods. While I recognize that these defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty, Baton Rouge residents deserve strategies that not only break the cycle of violence by treating its root causes, but also hold accountable those who have perpetrated violent crimes. I appreciate our District Attorney and his staff who are pressing hard in bringing these criminal street gang enhancement charges to send a clear message to those who mean harm to our residents: we will not tolerate lawlessness in this city, and we will not rest in the fight to stamp out group violence in our parish until we have won this war.​

Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome

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