Executive Summary
- Takari Elliott pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy charges involving a 2020 murder.
- Prosecutors stated Elliott helped lure the victim to a Brockton location where he was shot 10 times.
- The defendant faces a maximum penalty of life in prison with sentencing scheduled for May 27.
- The case is part of a larger federal indictment against 22 alleged members of the Cameron Street gang.
Takari “T-Paper” Elliott, a 34-year-old identified as a member of the Boston-based Cameron Street gang, has pleaded guilty in federal court to racketeering charges connected to a 2020 murder-for-hire plot, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
Elliott entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise involving murder before U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick. Prosecutors established that Elliott, who has been associated with the gang since at least 2011, played a pivotal role in the October 2020 assassination of Manuel “Brava” Duarte. Court documents detail that the victim was lured to a Brockton address via Snapchat under the guise of a drug transaction, where he was ambushed and shot ten times by Cameron Street members.
According to federal authorities, the assassination was a contract killing for which the participants were paid $60,000 to divide among themselves. This incident is part of a broader indictment targeting 22 alleged members of the Dorchester-based group. The indictment outlines a pattern of violent criminal activity attributed to the enterprise, including murders, armed robberies, carjackings, and human trafficking.
U.S. Attorney Leah Foley condemned the defendant’s actions, noting that Elliott continued to engage in criminal behavior—including drug distribution and firearm possession—while on federal supervised release for previous offenses. “He has no regard for the law and it appears that he is incapable of learning a lesson,” Foley stated regarding the proceedings.
Judicial Ramifications
The guilty plea represents a significant development in the federal government’s utilization of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act to dismantle violent street gangs in the Boston area. By securing a plea on the racketeering conspiracy charge, prosecutors avoid a lengthy trial for this defendant while solidifying the case against the broader criminal enterprise. Elliott faces a maximum sentence of life in prison when he returns to court for sentencing on May 27, 2026. It is important to note that while Elliott has pleaded guilty, all other individuals named in the wider indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
