GTA "Nut Case" Killer Gets 75 to Life

March 26, 2007

The leader of a street gang which played Grand Theft Auto III by day and acted the game out in real life by night has been sentenced to 75 years to life in state prison.

As reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, 27-year-old Gregory Colbert was convicted of killing a friend, Glen Phaso. As described by the Chronicle:

The Nut Cases were an Oakland street gang who told police that they spent their time getting high and playing the video game "Grand Theft Auto," then went and perpetrated the violent acts shown in the game, including robbery and murders. They called themselves the Nut Cases, and several members sported tattoos showing the Planters logo Mr. Peanut and the words "Nut Case."

Six other Nut Case members have been charged with five murders which took place during 2002-2003. Colbert is suspected in those cases but prosecutors did not have enough evidence to bring him to trial.

GamePolitics has previously reported on the conviction of another Nut Case killer, Demarcus Ralls.

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Comments

Submitted by Broken Controllers » GTA Gang Founder Sentenced to 75 (not verified) on Tue, 03/27/2007 - 12:27.

[...] 1UP - The case of 27-year-old Gregory Colbert is a strange one. The man founded a gang in Oakland, but it wasn’t what most people would consider a “normal” gang. Colbert’s gang, the Nut Cases, was based completely around the Grand Theft Auto franchise — specifically, the founder and his friends would play GTA, get high, and then commit real-world crimes based on the actions they were doing in-game. Thankfully, the crime spree has caught up with Colbert. Game Politics has reported that Gergory Colbert has received a sentence of 75 years to life in prison. [...]

Submitted by Kincyr (not verified) on Mon, 03/26/2007 - 22:27.

since it is written that Take 2 and Rockstar do not endorse, condone or otherwise encourage such behavior, they are no more to blame than Kraft (who owns the Planters line) is.

'course if Jerk happens to choke on a peanut, he'll have 2 reasons to think Kraft and Take 2 are conspiring to take him down...

Submitted by Kikimaru (not verified) on Mon, 03/26/2007 - 20:16.

Well, at least they can't use the "he's a minor" charge here -- these guys were old enough to know better.
Of course, doesn't seem like they were *smart* enough...

Eh, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named will be all over this in 3-2-1...

Submitted by Austin Lewis (not verified) on Mon, 03/26/2007 - 19:00.

There's something about those planters Peanuts and Mr. Peanut that just make me want to kill.

I think its the hat and gloves. He thinks hes beeter than me!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Submitted by hilaryduffgta (not verified) on Mon, 03/26/2007 - 17:43.

This is not something that should be laughed at! We all should fear the "nut case" gang remember they are "dangerous"

sorry thats all the energy i have for sarcasm

Submitted by LightWarrior (not verified) on Mon, 03/26/2007 - 15:32.

...I see...Planters Peanuts made them do it!

rofl....

Submitted by hilaryduffgta (not verified) on Mon, 03/26/2007 - 12:42.

"the nut cases" please tell me that wasnt their Gang name?

if so then they are beyond stupid and deserve 75 years "gta and drugs made us do it"

yea and twinkies and gta made me fat

Submitted by GTA Killer Discovers Respawn Glitch | (not verified) on Mon, 03/26/2007 - 11:27.

[...] Alleged founder of Nut Cases gang sentenced for killing [San Francisco Chronicle, via Game Politics] [...]

Submitted by volcanman (not verified) on Mon, 03/26/2007 - 10:57.

@ Shoehorn O'Plenty

I think that when they were caught they were using that as an excuse so that they could get less time. Doesn't seem like it'd work though.

Submitted by point09micron (not verified) on Mon, 03/26/2007 - 10:50.

So, what. His punishment is that he has to play that shitty game 25 to Life three times in a row? I thought cruel and unusual punishment was unconstitutional.

Submitted by You NEWB » Blog Archive » GTA “Nut Case&#8 (not verified) on Mon, 03/26/2007 - 09:13.

[...] Via: Game Politics Source: SF Chronicle [...]

Submitted by Terminator44 (not verified) on Mon, 03/26/2007 - 05:36.

"The Nut Cases were an Oakland street gang who told police that they spent their time getting high and playing the video game “Grand Theft Auto,”

Hm, doing drugs might explain their irrational behavior. However, blaming drugs is so 80s. It's all GTA's fault now!

Submitted by Thefremen (not verified) on Mon, 03/26/2007 - 05:31.

I think the SFC needs to take whatever classes Newscorp took so that next time they can do a better job at making a connection where there isn't one.

Submitted by Shoehorn O'Plenty (not verified) on Mon, 03/26/2007 - 04:26.

At least they didn't try to claim that the game made them do it. The language in that report seems to suggest it a little though, ie. They played the game, then went out and committed the acts in the game. It's probably a lot more likely that they committed these crimes, then came home and played a game that depicts similar acts.

Submitted by GetWellGamers (not verified) on Mon, 03/26/2007 - 04:20.

Sheesh.

At least they were honest and up front about it. Nut Cases indeed.

Submitted by Stephen M. Pittel, Ph.D. (not verified) on Sun, 04/01/2007 - 23:22.

I am a forensic psychologist who participated in the defense of Demarcus Ralls. I have read every document associated with the 'nut case' gang crimes & I have interviewed all of the key players. I am familiar with all of the crime details and the events leading up to each of the killings and robberies.

GTA was not a motive or an incentive or in any other way involved in the gang's activities! It was never presented as evidence in the trial or included in the opening or closing arguments of either the prosecution or the defense. The association between GTA and the 'nut case' gang is an invention of the media.

Submitted by Christian (not verified) on Sun, 04/08/2007 - 03:28.

@Kikimaru

Shush! You will summon him, like a grey haired version of Candyman! O_O

If you say his name 3 times to a darkened mirror he pops out and sues you for slander!

Shout box

BearDogg-X: Not game related, but found it interesting: http://www.upworthy.com/the-real-reason-they-still-play-mrs-robinson-on-the-radio?g=2&c=mrp1 - 90% of the music/TV/news media in USA owned by 6 companies.05/20/2013 - 2:38pm

BearDogg-X: @PHX Corp: It's like they're just throwing crap at the wall to see what sticks at this point.05/20/2013 - 12:15pm

Kajex: http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/05/20/neverwinter-money-making-exploit-sees-cryptic-turn-back-time/ My understanding is that none of this was illegal, either.05/20/2013 - 11:42am

PHX Corp: http://www.gamezone.com/news/2013/05/20/violent-video-games-are-bad-for-your-body Most rediclous Study about violent video games ever05/20/2013 - 10:13am

Cecil475: @PHX Corp - The dude's a moron who wouldn't know crap if it came up and kicked him.05/19/2013 - 6:36am

PHX Corp: http://kotaku.com/ea-sports-developer-calls-wii-u-crap-and-nintendo-wa-508481261 EA Sports Canada Moron calls Wii U 'Crap' and Nintendo 'Walking Dead'05/18/2013 - 11:42am

E. Zachary Knight: If the videos are of sufficient quality that people subscribe and watch regularly, then those let's players are providing a service that people want. That is the heart of capitalism. That is not something that should be shamed.05/17/2013 - 8:06am

E. Zachary Knight: I have no idea who either of those people are. However, I still don't see why making a business out of creating let's play videos is somehow evil or wrong.05/17/2013 - 8:04am

MaskedPixelante: It sure is if you're just doing it for the money. See Tobuscus and/or Pewdiepie for what happens when people get into it just for the money.05/17/2013 - 7:30am

E. Zachary Knight: Why is it wrong to make money doing LPs? Why should that be something that should be shamed?05/17/2013 - 6:20am

MaskedPixelante: https://twitter.com/PsychedelicSA/status/335183893214924801 Now here's an interesting, glass half full thought about the Nintendo LP thing. It outs the people who are just doing LPs to make money.05/17/2013 - 5:56am

E. Zachary Knight: I responded in writing to all this "let's play" stuff Nintendo Started. No need for my permission, I won't give it. It's not mine to give. http://divineknightgaming.com/?p=29205/16/2013 - 2:21pm

E. Zachary Knight: Lars Doucet of Levelup Labs has a Reddit going on game companies that allow monetization of Let's Play videos. http://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/1egayn/lets_build_a_list_of_game_studios_that_allow/05/16/2013 - 1:04pm

Sleaker: @Imautobot - yah I wouldn't use an emulator as a good first run test of how stable the console is, haha.05/16/2013 - 11:47am

E. Zachary Knight: The 50th person to jump off a bridge is just as dumb if not dumber than the 1st.05/16/2013 - 10:03am

MaskedPixelante: Yeah, let's all jump on Nintendo for doing this, even though they're hardly the first company to do this...05/16/2013 - 9:47am

E. Zachary Knight: Wow Nintendo, this is wrong. http://kotaku.com/nintendo-forcing-ads-on-some-youtube-lets-play-video-50709238305/16/2013 - 8:44am

Imautobot: @Sleaker, further gameplay has revealed that the controller button do stick under the faceplate. Also, The NES emulator (Emuya)keeps crashing on me, though I think a bad ROM is causing it.05/16/2013 - 7:10am

Papa Midnight: AE: I wonder if any other publishers will follow suit.05/15/2013 - 8:12pm

Andrew Eisen: EA is ditching Online Pass. http://venturebeat.com/2013/05/15/ea-kills-its-controversial-online-pass-program/05/15/2013 - 7:20pm

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