Gang members will not face death penalty in 2004 slayings

Federal prosecutors will not seek the death penalty against four members of the Playboy Bloods street gang accused of murder.

Prosecutors filed a notice of the decision Thursday. Attached to the document is a one-sentence letter from Attorney General Eric Holder to Daniel Bogden, the U.S. attorney for Nevada. The attorney general decides whether to seek the death penalty in federal cases.

The letter from Holder, dated Feb. 17, states, "You are authorized and directed not to seek the death penalty against Markette Tillman, Steven Booth, Jacorey Taylor, and Reginald Dunlap."

Tillman and Booth have been linked to the January 2004 slaying of security officer Brian Wilcox. Taylor, Dunlap and Booth have been linked to the November 2004 slaying of Billy Thomas.

Attorney Bret Whipple, who represents Tillman, said he expected the decision but was relieved by it nonetheless. Death penalty cases are rare in federal court.

In 2005, a state court jury acquitted Tillman of first-degree murder in the shooting death of Wilcox.

Tillman was among 10 members of the Playboy Bloods who were arrested in October 2008 after a federal investigation into the gang's activities.

Six other defendants have resolved their cases and received prison sentences. No trial date has been set for the four slaying suspects.

According to court records, the Playboy Bloods operate mainly in a housing complex at H and Doolittle streets and are involved in racketeering acts such as murder, attempted murder, robbery and drug trafficking.