DeKalb robbing crew leader guilty of murder

A DeKalb County jury found gang leader Michael Blaine guilty of at least one of the malice murder charges against him Wednesday.

As DeKalb Superior Court Judge Clarence Seeliger read off verdicts from the 38-count list of charges against the man accused of orchestrating a violent, and on one occasion murderous, robbing crew, Blaine stared intently at the judge’s stand.

“For violation of the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act … guilty,” Seeliger read. “For malice murder … guilty.”

Blaine was charged with two counts of malice murder and a host of felony murder charges in connection with the fatal shooting of Yusef Ellis and Eric Banks during separate robbery attempts.

But the jury only held Blaine responsible for Banks’ death on the night of Nov. 17, 2005.

Still, LaMonica Johnson, whose home Blaine’s crew invaded in the early morning hours of July 10, 2006, shed tears of joy when she heard the verdicts.

“I’m relieved,” she said, drying her eyes. “What my family went through on that night was horrible. It’s wonderful knowing he’ll be off the streets.”

According to testimony during the trial, Blaine planned to rob Banks – a drug dealer – and shot Banks at close range as the man left his south DeKalb County apartment.

One co-conspirator, getaway driver Tori Moore, testified earlier in the trial that Blaine returned to her car announcing that he had “left that [dude] leaking.”

Ellis’ death, according to testimony, was the result of a shootout with Blaine that Ellis initiated, and ended with both men being shot.

The jury returned seven “not guilty” verdicts, including one for malice murder and three felony murder charges, in relation to Ellis’ death.

Other charges Blaine was convicted for include three counts of felony murder, or causing death while committing a felony, six counts of aggravated assault, three counts of kidnapping with bodily injury and several counts of burglary and armed robbery.