In February of 2017, 18 prisoners in James T. Vaughn Prison were initially charged with multiple counts of murder, rioting, conspiracy and kidnapping. 1 of the initial suspect turned to a state star witness and Kelly Gibbs took his own life leaving a letter of declaration. Jarreau Ayers and Dwayne Staats already incarcerated with life... Continue Reading →
17-17-17 by Dwayne “BIM” Staats
On October 17th 2017, 17 prisoners were indicted for allegedly partaking in the uprising that occurred at James T. Vaughn Correction Center in Smyrna Delaware on February 1, 2017. This miscellany of individuals would eventually be given the moniker “Vaughn 17.” Contrary to our charge of “conspiracy,” prior to this case many of us had... Continue Reading →
Delaware Admits Failure, Drops Last Remaining Vaughn 17 Cases Retaliation Against Prisoners Continues
On Wednesday, June 12, Delaware announced it was dropping its last two cases against former Vaughn prisoners accused of participation in the 2017 prison takeover. Lawrence Michaels and Alejandro Rodriguez-Ortiz, whom the state claimed helped subdue correctional officers at the beginning of the takeover, will no longer be facing trial in the fall. The state... Continue Reading →
Letter from Pro Se defendant Jarreau Ayers of Vaughn Prison Riot Trial
Posted by T.C. Hall Media: This letter was intended to be published by a journalist from Delaware News Journal. The journalist decided not to publish Mr. Ayers letter. I was recently offered an opportunity to read the article you published in regards to the acquittals, hung juries and charges being dismissed against defendants, along with... Continue Reading →
No Convictions for Roman Shankaras!
Rome is the eighth defendant to be tried in this case, and the fifth to have now been cleared on all charges. Having been scheduled for release last year, he has now been released and is at home with his family. Two more defendants, Lawrence Michaels ("Smoke") and Alejandro Rodriguez-Ortiz ("Capo") are still scheduled to... Continue Reading →
Vaughn 17 Trial Begins for Roman Shankaras: Mastermind to Puppet Master, Depending On Who’s Describing Him
The third trial in Delaware’s prosecution of the Vaughn 17 began on Monday, May 6th, 2019. This time, Roman Shankaras is a solo defendant, fighting the same charges that fifteen of his co-defendants also faced — conspiracy, felony riot, assault, kidnapping, and murder — for allegedly participating in the February 2017 prisoner takeover of C-building... Continue Reading →
#Vaughn17: Call for Court Support as 3rd Trial Set to Begin
A call to support prison rebels as the third of the Vaughn 17 trials is set to begin. To read more about the Vaughn 17th case, go here. April 29th is jury selection for trial round number #3 of the Vaughn17! Roman Shankara’s, will go into trial by himself facing the in-just , supremacist courts... Continue Reading →
Seven #Vaughn17 Prisoners Moved from SCI Camp Hill
The seven #Vaughn17 prisoners who got moved to SCI Camp Hill in Pennsylvania five weeks ago were transferred to different PA prisons on Tuesday, April 16. Here are their new locations: Jarreau Ayers - NS9994, SCI Huntingdon Deric Forney - NS2698, SCI Coal Township Dwayne Staats - NS0000, SCI Albion Abednego Baynes - NT0594, SCI... Continue Reading →
Vaughn 17 Defendants Moved Out Of State In Spite Of Exoneration
The State of Delaware retaliated against defendants in the Vaughn uprising trial last week, by moving them out of state to Pennsylvania. Kevin Berry, Abednego Baynes, Obadiah Miller, Johnny Bramble, Dwayne Staats, and Jarreau Ayers were all transferred to solitary confinement at SCI Camp Hill, a maximum security facility. They joined Deric Forney, who was... Continue Reading →
Vaughn 17 Trial 2 Verdict
None convicted! Obadiah Miller Riot – no decision Felony murder – no decision Murder of law enforcement officer –no decision First-degree Assault, Officer Joshua Wilkinson – not guilty First-degree Assault, Officer Winslow Smith – not guilty Kidnapping Lt. Steven Floyd – not guilty Kidnapping – Wilkinson – not guilty Kidnapping - Smith – not guilty... Continue Reading →