According to court documents, the Gangster Disciples is a national gang active in more than 24 states with a highly organized structure including board members and governor-of-governors who each controlled geographic regions; governors, assistant governors, chief enforcers and chiefs of security for each state or regions within the state where the Gangster Disciples were active; and coordinators and leaders within each local group. On another occasion, gang member Lewis Mobley shot a teenage victim twice at point-blank range. A bystander, who is standing by her front door, is shot in the leg, but survives. The evidence showed that the defendants and their fellow gang members used the gangs structure to carry out a pattern of violent and serious crimes, including murder, attempted murder, robbery, bank and wire fraud, drug trafficking, and extortion. Members often designate themselves as part of the gang by wearing blue and black clothing. 8 Trey Mob (Gangster Disciples set) 823 Mob (Gangster Disciples set) A Aikiville (Gangster Disciples set) B Boss City (Gangster Disciples set) C CMB (Gangster Disciples set) Crazyville (Gangster Disciples set) E EBT (Gangster Disciples set) F Face World (Gangster Disciples set) G Geo Drive (Gangster Disciples set) It also promoted the Gangster Disciples enterprise through member-only activities, including conference calls, birthday celebrations of the gangs founder, the annual Gangster Ball, award ceremonies and other events. The gang, Horn said, was responsible for at least 10 murders, 12 attempted murders and numerous other crimes in the metro Atlanta area in the last few years. In the 2016 indictment, it alleged that each member of the gang agreed that each would commit at least two acts of racketeering as they conducted gang business. Police argued that these programs were strengthening the gang's criminal operations, while giving legitimacy to their politics of radicalization. Tavarez was a young man who didn't do anything wrong, didn't deserve what happened to him. Rather, families from other cities, such as New York's Five Families, have over the years embarked on one-off business ventures such as local restaurants, bars, and strip clubs as lucrative investments in their own right, or as front companies and mechanisms for money laundering. A 12-count indictment was returned by a grand jury on April 27, and unsealed today in the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Georgia. Rucker was a relative of the person suspected in the original murder. There are a lot of people out there willing to join gangs, and eager to get easy money from criminal activity. Defendant James Travis Riley, 35, of Wichita, Kansas has been charged with possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it, but is not charged in the RICO conspiracy. BIBB COUNTY, Ga. Five Georgia gang members -- four of whom are from metro Atlanta -- were indicted on charges related to three murders as well as other crimes. Lawrence Grice, 30, of Houston, Texas, was convicted of RICO conspiracy, and a drug conspiracy regarding more than five kilograms of cocaine. Defendant Donald Glass was charged with committing a murder in aid of racketeering and using a firearm during that murder. its tentacles, 18 February 1996, It's been a dramatic uptick in gang activity in Cobb, and we're not alone, it's all over the state of Georgia, Evans confirmed. In 2015, Atlanta police announced that they were tracking an estimated 192 gangs. Postal Inspection Services, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Atlanta Police Department, Fulton County Sheriffs Office, Clayton County Police Department, DeKalb County District Attorneys Office, DeKalb Police Department, Georgia Dept. sets of 150 disciples, two of which are entitled DOA (dead on The Gangster Disciples are a criminal street gang formed in Chicago in the late 1960s. At trial, the government presented evidence that the Gangster Disciples were responsible for 25 shootings from 2011 through 2015, including eight murders, multiple robberies, the extortion of rap artists to force the artists to become affiliated with the Gangster Disciples, fraud losses of over $450,000, and the trafficking of large amounts of heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, illegal prescription drugs and marijuana. Austin, Texas Bloomington, IL Buffalo, New York Just saying. We hope this indictment warns the leaders of these gangs that Atlanta is not a good place to do business., It is the very of core of law enforcements mission to ensure that everyone feels safe in their homes and neighborhoods, and it is a hard reality that many people across our country simply do not enjoy this basic sense of security because of gangs like the Gangster Disciples, said Assistant Attorney General Leslie Caldwell. Suite 600 Earlier this year, prosecutors detailed the timeline of a 2015 two-day killing spree. of Corrections, Gwinnett County Police Department, and Marietta Police Department), Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, and the United States Postal Inspection Services. He allegedly told the girls that even though he was pillaging their wages and tips, he would double their bonus at the end of the contract. Quiana Franklin, 33, of Birmingham, Alabama, served as treasurer for the state of Alabama. All five are charged with Racketeer Influenced Corruption Organization (RICO) conspiracy. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. over 30 members by his late teens. They are heavily organized, using code language to communicate, Theyre the largest gang we are facing in the streets and in the prisons.. Your email address will not be published. Co-founder of YSL gang denied bond in RICO conspiracy case tied to rapper Young Thug After the judge's bond ruling against Walter Murphy, his attorney Jacoby Hudson admits he went off. This program had also backfired on the city, and instead, had channeled gang members and street youth into the civil rights movement under the charismatic leadership of a select few Disciples and P. Stone leaders. According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the charges, and other information presented in court: The Gangster Disciples are a national gang with roots in Chicago dating back to the 1970's. The gang is highly structured, with a hierarchy of leadership posts known as "Positions of Authority" or "POAs." She and the other women, she recounted, were not allowed to speak to any black men at the clubs, and that Roberts had people staked out, watching them at the clubs while they worked. In March 2017, alleged gang member was arrested for human trafficking women, who were referred to as, Diamond Kitties in Sandy Springs. Chambers, Green, Carlisle and Guidry were arrested in Ruff and Jacksons deaths in Gwinnett County in 2019, where they remain. The Atlanta case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Hans B. Miller of the Criminal Divisions Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to eliminate the terror gang members inflict upon our communities, and will exhaust every available resource, including the federal RICO statute, to bring them to justice. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. The federal indictment cited four gang members who allegedly threatened Ross with physical harm unless he paid the gang for the use of the gangs name and symbols. Defendants were also accused of trafficking heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine as well credit card fraud. Since the training and placement were carried out by the gang leaders, themselves, (two leaders from the Disciples and two leaders from the Black P. Stones), critics argued that the Youth Manpower Project also allowed the gangs to fund their own drug-trade operations, prostitution rings and gambling establishments, and to stockpile weapons (Jacobs, 1983). "sessions" refer to gang meetings where problems It is the very of core of law enforcements mission to ensure that everyone feels safe in their homes and neighborhoods, and it is a hard reality that many people across our country simply do not enjoy this basic sense of security because of gangs like the Gangster Disciples, said Assistant Attorney General Caldwell. Agents also arrested Gangster Disciples members on a separate indictment handed down in Memphis, Tennessee. The Gangster Disciples are a highly organized and ruthless gang that recognizes no geographical boundaries, and its members have far too long indiscriminately preyed upon and infected the good people of our communities like a cancer. 1983. "Big 4: Gangster Disciples, Vice Lords, Crips, Bloods," When police got to the million-dollar suburban home on Strauss Lane, they found eight women inside, all alleging that Roberts was holding them against their will. Derrick Ruff and Joshua Jackson were allegedly shot to death by Green, Guidry and Carlisle in March of 2019. over the drug market. According to U.S. Attorney John Horn, the gang was responsible for at least 10 murders, 12 attempted murders and many other crimes including what police called the Bloody Summer crimes last year. We have a healthy awareness of the situation we are facing in dealing with this gang.. arrival) and MMG (money making gangsters), and one of which is They lured young people into the gang with the promise of a better life, and then inducted them into an appalling world of violence and crime., The Gangster Disciples have terrorized communities in Georgia and elsewhere for far too long, said Assistant Attorney Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Departments Criminal Division. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. of Community Supervision, GA Dept. Within Georgia, the leadership of the Gangster Disciples resided mostly in metro Atlanta, yet the reach of the crimes committed extended into far south and west Georgia. ATLANTA To say the street gangs name in Atlanta, a few things may come to mind. Pena was sentenced to two consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole, plus 40 years. ATLANTA - Federal agents have arrested multiple members and associates of the national gang The Gangster Disciples on RICO charges stemming from an indictment returned by a federal grand jury on April 27, 2016. They were further indicted on federal racketeering charges in Georgia as part of a three-year investigation. We hope this indictment warns the leaders of these gangs that Atlanta is not a good place to do business., As the indictment alleges, the Gangster Disciples flooded communities throughout the southeast and beyond with large amounts of drugs, and ruthlessly used fear, intimidation, and even murder to promote and protect their nationwide criminal enterprise, said U.S. Attorney Stanton. "Hoover tapes reveal details of gang life," 25 March [citation needed] Some of the gangs are nationwide, such as the Sureos, Bloods, Gangster Disciples, 61PK, Nortenos, Crips, Latin Kings, Tiny Rascal Gang, and MS-13 who have sent high ranking shot callers to establish local neighborhood cliques as loyal sets under the same flag. The Gangster Disciples (often abbreviated as the GD's, formerly GDN) are an African American street and prison gang, which was formed in 1969, by Larry Hoover and David Barksdale. The gang is highly structured, with a hierarchy of leadership posts known as Positions of Authority or POAs. The gang strictly enforces rules for its members, the most important of which is silence and secrecy a prohibition on cooperating with law enforcement. In addition, the Gangster Disciples trafficked in large amounts of heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, illegal prescription drugs, and marijuana. In fact, the deeds were done to impress potential young recruits and their parents. A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. According to the FBI, Shauntay Lamarr Craig was taken into custody at a home in Marrero, La. The FBI, along with our law enforcement partners, are committed to seeing this campaign through, and once and for all putting an end to the Gangster Disciples' reign of violence.. Yohori Epps, 36, of Marietta, Georgia, was a member of the Gangster Disciples. A video posted to YouTube showed alleged gang members speaking directly to rapper Rick Ross. Current chairman Larry Hoover, also known as Old Man, or "the Co-founder of YSL gang denied bond in RICO conspiracy case tied to rapper Young Thug. Prosecutors alleged that the two were members of the Hate Committee, a local subsidiary of the Gangster Disciples. Lewis Mobley, 45, of . In the 1960s, the GD were a dominant force and were the first street gang to appear in Memphis Tennessee in the 1980s. Abstract Like many other gangs in the United States, the BDs are able to exist over time only by the criminal exploitation of children. In the video, he was told he cannot play anymore shows in the other statesnearly half the countrywhere the gang has ties, including Georgia, unless he turns those checks in.. Jeremiah Covington, 32, of Valdosta, Georgia, was a first coordinator for the Valdosta region. The Gangster Disciples have a corporatelike structure that allows It's a multi-tiered problem. The well-known gangs are mainly concentrated in the West, Southwest, Southeast, and East Atlanta such as "The Robbing Crew " from Decatur and the "FENNOKES" from College Park with many gangs with turf on the outskirts of the city and have hybrid sets that are found in smaller cities all over Georgia. We are prepared to stand shoulder-to-shoulder to fight this fight, and we are seeing the community become more active as well., Road closures in place for annual Blue Mass in DC, Blue Mass 2023 road closures in place in DC, Virginia State Police cancel Senior Alert after Fairfax man found, Live Updates | City officials to give update after tornado rips through Great Neck area of Virginia Beach. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. The FBI later brought more charges against Roberts, including two counts of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Their bodies were found about four months later in a storage unit in Lawrenceville. Antonio Ahmad, 33, of Atlanta, Georgia, was the chief of security for the state of Georgia. Attorneys for the Northern District of Georgia, Thirty-Two Gangster Disciples Members Federally Indicted on RICO Charges, Former embassy employee sentenced to imprisonment for domestic violence against his spouse, Man sentenced to two years in prison for assault of a federal officer and destruction of government property, Repeat domestic violence abuser sentenced to 30 years in prison for drug trafficking and firearm offenses. Have a question about Government Services? As he approaches, he is shot five times by Broxton, but survives. The Gangster Disciples have ravaged communities across the nation, but now dozens of their leaders and enforcers are off the streets thanks to the extraordinary devotion of our federal, state and local law enforcement partners., For decades, the Gangster Disciples have destroyed communities all across the United States, said Acting U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine for the Northern District of Georgia. Clayton, who is also a rapper under the name OG KK was apprehended. involving the drug business are resolved. . reach the thousands. There are a lot of people out there willing to join gangs, and eager to get easy money from criminal activity. Arrie Freeney, 32, of Detroit, Michigan, was a member of the Gangster Disciples. After Ruckers murder, Chambers and Browner fled from Georgia to Texas. It also promoted the Gangster Disciples enterprise through member-only activities, including conference calls, celebrations of the birthday of the Gangster Disciples founder, the annual Gangster Ball, award ceremonies, and other events. Vertuies Wall, 43, of Atlanta, Georgia, was convicted of RICO conspiracy, including murder. Mangwiro Sadiki-Yisrael, 43, of Marietta, Georgia, held at different relevant times the positions of a first coordinator, assistant governor of Georgia, and governor of Georgia. The Black Disciples (BDs) are the Chicago "folks" gang that is structured more like a religion than a corporate enterprise and that gained international publicity in 1994 by executing an 11-year-old member. is simply a public-friendly disguise for illicit operations. The gang protected its power and operation through threats, intimidation and violence, including murder, attempted murder, assault and obstruction of justice. "I'm in a very bad situation and I need to get out," she told the 911 dispatcher. These charges show how a national gang like Gangster Disciples can wreak havoc here and in communities across the country, with crimes that run the gamut from murder to drug trafficking to credit card fraud. of Community Supervision, Georgia Department of Corrections, Gwinnett County Police Department, and Marietta Police Department investigated the case. Pitchfork and a six-pointed star (referred to as the Star According to Horn, several defendants indicted in Georgia were national leaders of the gang. An official website of the United States government. Chambers and Brown are also charged with violent crime in aid of racketeering- murder (VICAR) and on gun charges. The pairs crime spree starts on July 3, 2015 when Broxton and Pena, known as Lil Joe and Island attempt to rob Edward Chadmon at the Stone Mountain Inn. Gangs: A Counselor's Dilemma 3 Gang structure The Illinois Department of Corrections has identified four criteria used to define a street gang. The Gangster Disciples are a national gang with roots in Chicago, Illinois dating back to the 1970s, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine, the charges and other information . The gang was highly structured, with a hierarchy of leadership posts known as Positions of Authority or POAs. Members were organized into different positions, including board members and governor-of-governors who each controlled geographic regions; governors, assistant governors, chief enforcers and chief of security for each state where Gangster Disciples were active; and coordinators and leaders within each local group. concerts. Vancito Gumbs, 29, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, a member of the Gangster Disciples while at the same time serving as a police officer with the DeKalb County, Georgia Police Department, who provided sensitive information to the Gangster Disciples and claimed to be a hitman for them, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after a trial jury found him guilty of RICO conspiracy. Their rivals include the Bloods and People Nation; in Tipton County these are Vice Lords. Alvis ONeal, 43, of Denver, Colorado, a drug trafficker for the Gangster Disciples, was sentenced to seven years and six months in custody after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy. Last Defendant Sentenced in Gangster Disciples Case Lewis Mobley, 45, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced Tuesday to 40 years in prison for his role as an enforcer for the Gangster Disciples gang, including shooting a minor in the chest twice for interrupting the filming of a gang rap video. In addition, they frequently draw symbols that are disrespectful to People Nation sets such as upside-down crowns and upside-down number 5s. According to U.S. Attorney Horn, the charges, and other information presented in court: Beginning in 2009, the defendants named in the RICO conspiracy charge committed murder, attempted murder, robbery, extortion, arson, firearm crimes, drug trafficking, wire fraud, bank fraud, credit card fraud, prostitution and obstruction of justice and other crimes in furtherance of the Gangster Disciples. At that time, DeKalb County District Attorney Robert James called their crimes in Atlanta a reign of terror and said the gang was a serious threat to the city. These are the people who keep gangs like the Gangster Disciples alive, year in and year out, generation after generation. Another indictment unsealed in Memphis, Tenn., charged another 16 alleged Gangster Disciple members, according to authorities. The Memphis RICO conspiracy indictment names the following defendants and their alleged roles within the Gangster Disciples: Byron Montrail Purdy, aka Lil B or Ghetto, 37, of Jackson, Tennessee, served as Gangster Disciples leader in Tennessee; Derrick Kennedy Crumpton, aka 38, 32, of Memphis, served as Gangster Disciples leader in Tennessee; Demarcus Deon Crawford, aka Trip, 32, of Jackson, served as leader of security in Tennessee; Henry Curtis Cooper, aka Big Hen, 36, of Memphis, served as leader of security in Tennessee; Rico Terrell Harris, aka Big Brim, 43, of Memphis, served as leader of security in Tennessee; Shamar Anthony James, aka Lionheart, 37, of Memphis, held the rank of governor of a region in Memphis; Demario Demont Sprouse, aka Taco, 35, of Memphis, held the rank of chief of security of a region in Memphis; Robert Elliott Jones, aka Lil Rob or Mac Rob, 36, of Memphis, held the rank of governor of a region in Memphis; Denton Suggs, aka Denny Mo or Diddy Mo,40, of Memphis, held the rank of chief of security in a section of Memphis; Santiago Megale Shaw, aka Mac-T, 23, of Jackson, was a member of the security team or blackout squad in Jackson; Tarius Montez Taylor, aka T, 26, of Jackson, was a member of the security team or blackout squad in Jackson; Tommy Earl Champion Jr., aka Duct Tape, 27, of Jackson, held the rank of chief of security of Jackson; Cory Dewayne Bowers, aka Bear Wayne, 32, of Jackson, was associated with the Gangster Disciples and acted as a member of the security team in Jackson; Gerald Eugene Hampton, aka G30, 30, of Jackson, held the rank of assistant chief of security and was a member of the security teams blackout squad in Jackson; Daniel Lee Cole, aka D-Money, 37, of Jackson, acted as assistant governor and assistant education coordinator for the Gangster Disciples in Jackson; and. The two park, exit the car and open fire on the suspected rival, who returns gunfire.