In a tragic turn of events, the life of 17-year-old Qualeef Rhodes was cut short in what authorities have described as a gang-related execution. The young male's body was discovered on June 4, 2017, alongside Bells Ferry Road in the area of White, Georgia. An investigation revealed that he had been shot to death. Initially, law enforcement had trouble identifying the victim and released photos of his tattoo and backpack to the public in the hopes of generating leads.
This effort proved successful, as Rhodes' family came forward and confirmed his identity.
The investigation into his death uncovered a sinister plot rooted in gang allegiance and a strict code of silence. Federal prosecutors alleged that Rhodes, who was reportedly a member of the 135 Pirus street gang, was killed because his fellow gang members believed he was cooperating with law enforcement about a prior crime. The incident that precipitated Rhodes' murder was a shooting that occurred on May 13, 2017, outside a nightclub in Brookhaven. A high-ranking member of the 135 Pirus, Maurice Antonio Kent, allegedly fired into a crowd, injuring a rival gang member and a security guard. Following this event, suspicion fell upon Rhodes, leading members of the gang to conspire to murder him.
In March 2018, a federal grand jury returned a nine-count indictment against six alleged members and associates of the 135 Pirus gang in connection with a series of violent acts, including the murder of Qualeef Rhodes. Those indicted were Maurice Antonio Kent, also known as 'Savage Duze,' Christopher Nwanjoku, Jamel Dupree Hughes, Cedric Sams, Jr. who went by 'Awall,' Jennifer Foutz, also known as 'Rose,' and Michael Kent. The charges they faced were severe, including murder in aid of racketeering.
The legal process that followed saw at least two of the accused facing convictions for their roles in the events surrounding Rhodes' death. Cedric Sams Jr. was convicted on charges of murder and firearms offenses. Maurice Antonio Kent, the gang leader who was involved in the initial nightclub shooting, was found guilty by a federal jury of racketeering-related conspiracy and other violent crime charges. The prosecution successfully argued that Kent's actions and leadership were instrumental in the chain of events that culminated in the death of Qualeef Rhodes.
