Gang with 'Watchmen' for Chapayevsk and Bezenchuk Sentenced
In Samara Region, the court process for a criminal case against the organizer of a gang and seven participants has concluded. Depending on their roles, they were found guilty on a list of articles of the Russian Criminal Code — «Kidnapping», «Involving a minor in a criminal group», «Robbery», «Armed robbery», «Extortion», «Creation and participation in an armed group (gang)», «Occupying the highest position in the criminal hierarchy», and «Illegal acquisition, storage, and carrying of firearms».
«In January 2021, one of the defendants organized a stable armed group (gang) to commit robberies, armed assaults, and extortion coupled with kidnapping, and led it. Together with other participants, a 17-year-old young man was involved in the gang»s criminal activity. Gang members acquired and used firearms,« the regional prosecutor»s office said.
According to this supervisory authority, two defendants occupied the highest position in the criminal hierarchy, being «watchmen» for the city of Chapayevsk and the settlement of Bezenchuk. In April 2021, law enforcement officers suppressed the group«s activity. Ten people were recognized as victims, with damages calculated at 300,000 rubles (approximately $3,000 at current rates).
«Taking into account the prosecutor»s opinion, the court sentenced the guilty to imprisonment terms ranging from 4.5 to 18 years, with restriction of freedom for terms from 6 months to 1.5 years. One convict will serve the sentence in a special regime colony, four in a strict regime colony, and one in a general regime colony. Two were released from punishment due to having served it,« the prosecutor»s office reported.
In September of last year, in Tolyatti, a sentence was handed down to three members of another criminal group that included another «watchman», this time in the auto city.
