Not quite a decade after Akeem Oliver was gunned down in October 2016, Devonte Hodge was given life in federal prison for his death Wednesday.

Both were part of Teddy Caldwell’s Gary drug ring. Oliver, 29, was feeding the cops information on Isaiah “Drizzy” Edwards’ June 2016 death.

He is a “stone cold killer,” U.S. Attorney David Nozick said of Hodge. “This man is a committed witness killer.”

Hodge, aka “Little Bro,” 29, of Gary, was convicted at trial and sentenced for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and using a firearm to commit murder in Oliver’s death.

His defense lawyer Adam Tavitas — with co-counsel James Simmons — noted he had already spent over eight years in county or federal custody. He was a “very bright” man whose family filled a solid part of the courtroom, Tavitas said. He asked for 20 years.

Hodge called Oliver his “friend” and said he was not the man depicted in court paperwork. He maintained his innocence.

Federal authorities disagree.

Nozick — who tried the case with co-counsel Joel Mathur — called Hodge’s comments “completely insincere.” While technically his first conviction, he estimated Hodge could be responsible for as many as 5-7 murders.

Hodge launched a “ruthless campaign of killing witnesses against him,” he said.

His criminal record was “as egregious” as he saw in nearly 30 years as a prosecutor. Nozick asked for life in prison.

Court filings show Hodge shot Oliver 17 times inside a vehicle on Oct. 8, 2016, near the area of 20th Avenue and Virginia Street in Gary. Oliver’s brother also was injured in the shooting.

Hodge’s cousin, Andrew Ford, 24, opened fire first at Oliver before he missed, filings show.

At the hearing, Oliver’s sister Shanita told the court he left behind five kids.

“All I want to know is why,” she said.

A couple months after Oliver’s death, Hodge’s then-girlfriend got into a fight with him at Caldwell’s Da Wash car wash. She threatened to go to the cops, that the group killed Oliver and Edwards.

Hodge later told Ford to “handle that,” prosecutors alleged.

That night on Dec. 8, 2016, Hodge and Ford met up with the woman and her friend, who was armed. Ford was killed in the shootout, records state.

After it was over, Hodge went up and shot the woman 5-6 times and once in the head, Nozick said. She survived.

U.S. District Judge Philip Simon said the woman’s trial testimony was among the most “devastating” he’d heard.

Hodge is facing an attempted murder case in Lake County in connection with that shooting. A hearing is scheduled Thursday.

A federal indictment showed Oliver helped Caldwell and others dump drug ring “associate” Isaiah “Drizzy” Edwards’ body after he was murdered on June 26, 2016.

Later in September 2016, Oliver called Caldwell from Lake County Jail, wanting bail money and funds to get a lawyer. The next month, Hodge and Caldwell were discussing at “Da Wash” that Oliver was feeding incriminating information on Edwards’ death to the police.

According to documents, Caldwell admitted leading a cocaine ring from 2016 to 2018, which sold drugs out of his home, in the 2500 block of Jefferson Street, and car wash business, Da Wash, located at Broadway and East 20th Place. He pleaded guilty in August 2022 and is awaiting sentencing in August.

Hodge is facing another federal trial in July for the September 27, 2014 death of Deshelon Hicks in Gary on the 2200 block of E. 19th Place.

mcolias @post-trib.com