Yella Beezy trial: A detective on Bodega and 'Get Rich Cartel'

[00:00:00] Nelson: Do you swear that the testimony you're about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth to help you go? I do. [00:00:09] Speaker ?: Thank you. [00:00:16] Speaker 2: Good morning, sir. Good morning, sir. Would you please introduce yourself to this jury and spell your first and last name to the court reporter? [00:00:26] Nelson: My name is Barrett, B-A-R-R-E-T-T-K, Nelson, N-E-L-S-O-N. [00:00:35] Speaker 2: And how are you currently employed? Currently employed at the City of Dallas. In what capacity are you employed at Dallas? As a police officer. How long have you been a police officer with the Dallas Police Department? [00:00:47] Nelson: 33 years. [00:00:51] Speaker 2: Specifically, what is your title and role with the Dallas Police Department? [00:00:55] Nelson: Currently, I'm with TFO. I'm with the U.S. Marshals Task Force. [00:00:59] Speaker 2: And you are a detective with DPD, but you're assigned to the U.S. Marshals? Correct. Because I will call you Detective Nelson throughout. Just want to make sure. That's fine. The jury knows why. Yes. Can you just explain to the jury, they've heard a little bit about the ATF Task Force, as well as the EA Task Force. But can you explain what the U.S. Marshals Task Force does, and specifically, what task force officers do with the U.S. Marshals Office? [00:01:32] Nelson: My role with the U.S. Marshals started in 2009. I've been in the Dallas Police Office since 1993. I did patrol with Oak Cliff from 93 to 97. From 97 to 2009. I was in the Dallas game. In 2009, they picked me to come up with the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force. My job as a fugitive task force is to arrest, violate, violate crime, specifically murder. We have all the murders with the Dallas Police Department, and also the smallest surrounding areas outside of Dallas. Garland, Rowlett, Lancaster, DeSoto, Duncanville, Garland, Coffman County. When they have a murder warrant that they want to serve, and they don't know where the individual is, so they believe the individual has fled, they contact us. [00:02:37] Speaker 2: What does a typical day look like for you? [00:02:42] Nelson: My day starts at about 4 o'clock each morning. We have 15 people on my team, which is Alpha Team, and each of us have cases. We start, brightening up, because we do our research, we do our homework, and the individual that we're looking for, we go to their house, or their cousin's house, or their baby mama's house, or wherever they are at that time. So, we locate them, and we try to take new custody as quick and quiet as possible. [00:03:18] Speaker 2: And, back in 2020, in your own permission approach, you moved out freely during this witnesses test. [00:03:25] Speaker 3: Yes, I think. [00:03:27] Speaker 2: In November of 2020, were you involved in the U.S. Marshals Task Force at that time? [00:03:36] Nelson: Yes, I was. [00:03:39] Speaker 2: In November of 2020, have you been involved in the locating and apprehension of multiple individuals who have been involved with the death of Melvin Noble? Yes, I have. I'm going to show you first what's been previously admitted at State's Exhibit 358 and 1002A. Do you recognize those two exhibits? Yes, sir. Who is in State's Exhibit 358 and 1002A? That's key 111. Detective Nelson, I'm showing you what's been marked at State's Exhibit 737 and 741 that are previously admitted for all purposes. Do you recognize those two exhibits? Yes, sir. What are State's Exhibit 737 and 741, or how do you know what they are? [00:04:43] Nelson: Cell phones. One's Apple. One has another case on Samsung. And when we took Q1-1 to custody, it had been on this person. [00:04:57] Speaker 2: And again, that's the individual in 1002A and 358? [00:05:03] Nelson: Correct, sir. [00:05:09] Speaker 2: There's been significant talk about a person named Jerry and a person named Theodore Thomas. I'm showing you what's been marked at State's Exhibit 1004A and 1007A. Do you recognize the two individuals in 1004A and 1007A? Yes, I do. Who are those individuals? [00:05:27] Nelson: Jerry Johnson and Theodore Thomas. [00:05:30] Speaker 2: And are those individuals known to you in part because of this case as well as their association with Get Rich Cartel? Yes, sir. Do you think it would help aid the jury in understanding your testimony with these photos? Yes, sir. The state would offer 1004A and 1007A for all purposes, tenure to defense. I have a photo of 1004A. A photo of Jerry Johnson with his nickname, and Theodore Thomas with his nickname in 1007A. No checks. [00:06:06] Nelson: All right, State says it's 1004A and 1007A. They're admitted for all purposes. [00:06:11] Speaker 2: Thank you. I have permission to publish. Yes, you may. And, Secretary Nelson, while you're testifying, I'm just going to place a couple photos back here behind you. Do you recognize the other individuals in 1003A, 1005A, and 1006A? Do you recognize those three individuals? I recognize everybody up there. Okay. And, for the record, 1005A, is that Devin Brown? [00:06:46] Nelson: Correct. [00:06:47] Speaker 2: 1005A, who do we have here? Marquise Conway. Do you know his alias? Yeah, what he is. Do you recognize that individual in the courtroom today? Yes. Can you identify him by the type of clothing he's wearing? [00:06:59] Nelson: It's where it's called with the turtleneck. [00:07:03] Speaker 2: And, finally, states give it 1006A, who do we have there? That's Devaris Moore, Trap Boy Freddy. Devaris Moore, Trap Boy Freddy. Now, you started to say you've arrested all of these individuals. [00:07:21] Nelson: Yes, I had to correct myself. [00:07:24] Speaker 2: As it relates to this case and what we're talking about, did you arrest Theodore Thomas? Were you involved in the arrest of Theodore Thomas? No, I was not. Jerry Johnson, and I just want to make sure I get these numbers right. In states give it 1004, were you involved in his apprehension and arrest? Yes, I was. As it relates to this case and Devaris Moore, a.k.a. Trap Boy Freddy, in 1006A, he was not arrested as it relates to this case. Is that correct? [00:08:04] Nelson: Correct. [00:08:07] Speaker 2: Let's talk about, let's start with Devin Brown. Or, what was the order as it related to the capital murder charge of Melvin Noble? The order, if you remember, of who was arrested and when? [00:08:20] Nelson: First person arrested was Kewan White. Got him in the shopping center at Key Standby, getting out of the car. [00:08:31] Speaker 2: And, now, Devin Brown, though, he was apprehended at his house in November, is that correct? Correct. So, he ended up being apprehended, I believe, December 8th or 9th. Does that sound right? Yes, sir. 3030 Britton, this jury's heard about this house. Yes. Is that where you apprehended him? Yes, sir, it is. And that being Devin Brown. Once you apprehended him at that house, was that with the marshal's task force? Yes. And where do you take Devin Brown after that? [00:08:59] Nelson: Take him on to DPD Homicide at BND. [00:09:06] Speaker 2: When you hit that house and make an arrest of Devin Brown, do you notify a crime scene to come in? How does that work? [00:09:15] Nelson: Yes, sir. We notify a crime scene to come take all evidence and we can see it on, so they conduct a search. [00:09:23] Speaker 2: You are not a part of the actual search and seizure at the house? [00:09:26] Nelson: No, sir. My job is to buy. I don't do anything else but that. [00:09:32] Speaker 2: Keywon White, in December 8th or December 9th, if you wouldn't mind, walk us through locating him and how you were ultimately able to apprehend him. [00:09:44] Nelson: Keywon White, we had previously hit another location that was a GRC hangout. [00:09:51] Speaker 2: Was that 3915 Ramona Avenue? [00:09:53] Nelson: Correct. We got out there about four in the morning, set up, hit it about six. Unfortunately, he wasn't there. We contacted the detectives who were there. They took up the scene. We moved on to see if we could find another location from where he could be possibly high. [00:10:12] Speaker 2: And when you made entry into that house at Ramona prior to moving on to different locations, did you observe things in plain view that initiated a search warrant being done of that Ramona location? Yes. The jury has seen a lot of the evidence already that's come from that house. But that was why, that's what initiated that search warrant being? [00:10:37] Nelson: Correct. [00:10:37] Speaker 2: Okay. Walk us through then as you move forward in trying to apprehend Keywon White, what information did you have or did you know at that time as it related to him? [00:10:51] Nelson: We knew he wasn't at home. He was the type of person to go from couch to couch, futon to futon. So, it's going to take some good street intelligence and talking to people to get a beat on him because we knew once we hit that house at the GRC location that everybody knew that something's going on. I got a phone call. Dad, he was riding in a car in that area that I just mentioned where we took him into custody. I was around the corner at the Butterbeens, excuse me, it's an apartment complex. They know a cliff called the Butterbeens. Myself and Detective Power, we were able to get in the area very quickly and I had about four to five of the marshals that converted to that area. We all went covert, we don't look like police, we don't dress like police. We have regular smooth cars but they aren't put the license irons. Once we got inside the area, Detective Power got in the parking lot and contacted me on the radio and said, I see him standing out in front of a car. At the barbershop that GRC also frequents. [00:12:07] Speaker 2: And is that the tremendous cuts at 34, 32, Sunnyvale? [00:12:12] Nelson: Correct. Once we got into that area, we were able to get close enough to jump out and take him into custody as he was standing outside. The vehicle that he was in took off, wasn't worried about the vehicle, I wanted Mr. White. So at that point in time, took him into custody and had DPD transport for him to homicide along with his property. [00:12:35] Speaker 2: And there were other Dallas Police Department officers that were dressed in uniforms and marked the squad cars, correct? Correct. And Detective Howard, you've mentioned him, he's a task force officer with the ATF. [00:12:50] Nelson: Correct. [00:12:51] Speaker 2: And those two phones that you've now testified to, 737 and 741, were the ones that were on his person when you took him into custody? Yes, sir. And then when you take him down to Jack Evans, that's where all of that goes? Yes, sir. And Jack Evans being the police headquarters? [00:13:17] Nelson: Yes, sir. Fifth floor. [00:13:22] Speaker 2: Jerry Johnson, tell us a little bit about when you were able to apprehend him and where. [00:13:30] Nelson: Jerry Johnson was living in Foxahatchee. Had a nice house in that area. We got down there again about 4, 4.30 to the morning. Did surveillance the previous day. Got back out there, set up on the house, and it's 6 o'clock. My team, my team, about 15 of us, we executed the warning as the rest of us. [00:14:05] Speaker 2: Now, with Marquis Conner, the defendant in this case, what was your involvement in ultimately, in his ultimate arrest for this case? [00:14:19] Nelson: We go by geographical locations. [00:14:22] Speaker 2: And you, we being the Marshal. [00:14:23] Nelson: We being the U.S. Marshal. I'm sorry. And his rest of the time took in Frisco, in a gated community. I contacted the Marshal's in Frisco to let them know that he could possibly be coming up there to serve a warrant. And they had a first right of refusal. It's their area. So, they were interested in serving that warrant. At that point in time, we collaborated. And I allowed them to go ahead and attempt to arrest Mr. Conway and his rest of us. [00:14:59] Speaker 2: Was that where he was ultimately arrested? No, sir. Can you explain to the jury just a little bit about what took place? [00:15:10] Nelson: Well, Mr. Conway and Mr. Conway and Mr. Conway and the Eastern District U.S. Marshal's got in there and they were set up outside his subdivision. It was a gated subdivision. They waited for him to leave. He came out in his SUV and they were not set up in time to arrest him in a safe and proper way. So, therefore, Mr. Conway got on the tollway and started heading south. I was sitting in my office on the phone with them and listening to the radio. They traveled all the way down the tollway until they got open to the courthouse. That's when they were calling me because now they're in my jurisdiction. They're in Dallas. So, they weren't going to be familiar with the streets in the area. Mr. Conway recognized the train that was following him. [00:16:15] Speaker 3: Did he talk about Conway or White? [00:16:18] Nelson: Conway, man. [00:16:19] Speaker ?: Okay. [00:16:22] Nelson: Key one was the... Yes, ma'am. [00:16:24] Speaker 2: And this is in March of 2025? Correct. And you said the train of cars behind him? [00:16:32] Nelson: The train of SUVs were following down the tollway. They got off here at 35. And at that point in time, Mr. Conway recognized the train behind him. He went southbound on 35, exit off H3, busted U, and came back down on 35. At that point in time, he was like, BK, we're burned. He knows it's us. I was at Dallas headquarters, so I jumped in my vehicle. He got off on the riverfront off of 35, and he hung on the left. Once he hung on the left, there was another light there, and he ran that light, hung on the left, and got on 30 westbound. At that point in time, he was able to loot them and totally lost them. They didn't know where it was. [00:17:25] Speaker 2: And at what point were you able to make contact again and ultimately take him into custody? [00:17:32] Nelson: He was contacted at 3303 Southern Oaks, Rosemont Park was right there. He was taken in custody in a safe manner, no issues. [00:17:43] Speaker 2: And you brought a safe manner, taking someone in, like, the surveillance that you do and the precautions that y'all take, taking somebody into custody. What is your ultimate goal when taking someone into custody? [00:17:59] Nelson: My ultimate goal in the march was ultimately going to go is compliance. So we make sure we have enough bodies there, enough people there to dominate the situation and make sure that they see police everywhere. When we do stuff that way, a person has to make a decision. There's too many police to try to do anything violent, because it's not going to end well for them at that point in time. [00:18:26] Speaker 2: And ultimately to do this in the safest manner possible. [00:18:28] Nelson: Safest manner possible. First thing is the public, make sure the public is safe. Then us, then the suspect. [00:18:38] Speaker 2: Now, you've talked about, briefly, this SUV that the defendant was driving. Can you describe more than just the rims and the color of the vehicles? It was bulletproof. It was bulletproof? Correct. And I believe the type was Yukon Denali, does that sound correct? Yes, sir. The barbershop, I think I might have cut you off, and I apologize. You talked about the Ramona House and, I believe, the Britton House, 30th Britton House, as being hangouts for GRC. Is that fair? [00:19:47] Nelson: Correct. [00:19:51] Speaker 2: What about the Tremendous Cuts Barbershop? Do you know whose barbershop that was? [00:19:57] Nelson: I didn't know that was Jerry's barbershop as well. [00:20:00] Speaker 2: Jerry Johnson. Correct. And he's a member of GRC? [00:20:03] Nelson: Yes. [00:20:04] Speaker 2: Also, a spot known for GRC members to hang out. [00:20:08] Nelson: Yes. [00:20:19] Speaker 2: Thank you, Detective Nelson. I'll pass it with us. [00:20:23] Speaker 3: Thank you, Honor. Detective Nelson, how are you doing today? [00:20:27] Nelson: I'm trying to maintain and keep the center, sir. [00:20:29] Speaker 3: How are you doing? Doing pretty good. I have just a few questions. Now, the prosecutor asked you about Jerry Johnson. Jerry Johnson was arrested in Waxahachie, is that correct? Correct. And he was arrested on a drug charge, is that correct? Yes. And that was in 2023, is that correct? [00:20:49] Nelson: I would have to see the report, sir. But it was back in the day. [00:20:54] Speaker 3: It was several years before you came in contact with Michael. Oh, yes. I wasn't. [00:20:58] Nelson: Yes. [00:21:00] Speaker 3: As far as Theodore Thomas, again, he was arrested on drug charges. I didn't arrest him, sir. And so, you just testified that you were aware of who he was. [00:21:14] Nelson: Aware of who he was, I think it was a gun charge, if I'm not mistaken, but I didn't arrest him. So, I'm not familiar, too much familiar with his criminal history. [00:21:24] Speaker 3: A gun charge back in 2022, would that ring a bell? Did you and Jabari Howard and Eric Barnes all work interchangeably, is that correct? [00:21:34] Nelson: They work for ATF, I work for U.S. Marshals, but we work a several out of cases together, sir. But y'all work in this together, is that correct? I would usually arrest everybody, yes. But you were working this in... I was working this, but I did not arrest him on Bodega, no, sir. [00:21:52] Speaker 3: But you were requested by a homicide, Detective Anderson, to go out and make an arrest at 3915 Ramona after Kewan White was arrested on a murder charge, correct? [00:22:05] Nelson: Yes. [00:22:07] Speaker 3: And so, you were aware on that case, Kewan White was the subject of the 3915 Ramona, is that correct? [00:22:14] Nelson: Kewan White was known to hang out at the location, and I received it for a federal charge, a gun charge, not a murder. [00:22:22] Speaker 3: You mentioned that, but this is a joint investigation with DPD Homicide, ATF Task Force, Jabari Howard, Eric Barnes, and U.S. Marshals, in your capacity, are all issuing an arrest warrant on Kewan White in 2020. [00:22:42] Nelson: The warrant came from DPD Homicide, Detective Lawrence. I don't produce murder warrants, sir. My job is just to find him. [00:22:51] Speaker 3: I'm not asking you if you produced a murder warrant. I said that you went out to arrest him on a murder warrant. [00:22:56] Nelson: I went out to arrest him for a federal gun charge. I didn't have a murder warrant at that time, but it was the way. [00:23:02] Speaker 3: Were you aware that he also had a search warrant for a murder investigation on 3915 Ramona? [00:23:09] Nelson: That was the search warrant for the evidence that was in Planned View that we saw. Yes, sir. [00:23:15] Speaker 3: Okay. And this is back in 2020? [00:23:20] Nelson: Yes. [00:23:25] Speaker 3: I have no further questions, Gerard. Oh, yeah, I do, if I could. Okay, go ahead. Well, Mr. Conway, you testified to this jury about he was driving a black Yukon. [00:23:39] Nelson: Yes. [00:23:40] Speaker 3: And were you, did you see him driving that Yukon? No, sir, did not. And as far as, there was no chase of anything that he did, right? [00:23:48] Nelson: It was no, sir. It was no chase. It was a, they were trying to find a spot. [00:23:53] Speaker 3: So when you tell this jury that, you know, you're describing what's going on, you didn't even see him driving. You didn't see him go down? [00:24:01] Nelson: I am getting messages relayed to the phone from the marshals that were following him, sir. [00:24:06] Speaker 3: And if you would have got any kind of messages that he was fleeing or any way trying to evade, you would have just told that jury, is that correct? Yes, sir. And my client in no way tried to evade the police, is that correct? What he did was, sir, a simple, that's a yes or no, is that correct? [00:24:25] Nelson: He didn't evade, sir, because. You didn't see him? We're not marked, no, sir, I didn't, I was in my office listening to it on the radio. [00:24:31] Speaker 3: And nothing was reported that he evaded. [00:24:33] Nelson: If he would have, if he would have evaded, we would have got, we got a charge. [00:24:37] Speaker 3: Okay, let's not talk over each other. [00:24:39] Nelson: If he would have evaded, it would have been the charge. No charge was done with that, sir. [00:24:43] Speaker 3: Okay. I have no further questions. Pass with us. State. Another brother, Your Honor. Thank you, Detective. No. [00:24:52] Nelson: May this, what is that released? [00:24:54] Speaker 3: Okay. No checks, Your Honor. [00:24:56] Speaker ?: Thank you, Detective. Thank you.