Underneath the Chairman are "Board Members," who maintain contact with state and regional leaders--the "Governor-of-Governors," "Governors," and"Assistant Governors.". Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( Why does it take Donald Trump to do something like this? To introduce the criminal nature of the Gangster Disciples to a new member, older members and leaders in the various local groups ordered newer members to commit crimes, including murder, robbery and drug trafficking. An estimated 2,000 people have been identified by police as members of gangs. The Black Disciples Gangster Nation initiate new members with beat-downs by fellow gang members, murders, and other violent crimes. Coach Ezra Hendrickson, Fire looking to prove doubters wrong, Baseball quiz: Remember what happened after Jackie, Kahleah Copper: Precious mettle for the new-look Sky. He's currently being held at a federal prison in Ashland, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. If convicted of the racketeering conspiracy charged in Count 1, each defendant could receive as much as life in prison and a $250,000 fine. Black blocks can strengthen Black communities, cities and states.. [citation . Emailassign@whas11.com, visit ourFacebook pageorTwitter feed. Hoover is serving a life sentence in a super-max prison in Colorado. James Yates (right) talks with Robbins Park District president Andrea Roberson about logistics for his food drive. Governor of Governors: Regional officer in charge of the governors. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. The "Treasurer" assists the governor in collecting dues for each state for the national Treasurer. "Responsible for seeing that punishment, including 'Kill on Sight' (KOS) orders and 'greenlights,' which authorize physical punishment, are effectuated for Gangster Disciples who violate gang rules. "This is a different Louisville and if we don't pay attention and do something about it then it's going to be out of control.". The other shows a gang-related shooting captured by police cameras in the middle of the day. A locked padlock This investigation demonstrates ATFs commitment and the commitment of our law enforcement partners to ensure that Missouri and Illinois communities remain a safe place to live, work and raise families. 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. One shows an incident in 2003 of how gangs use children to distribute drug. Chairman: the national leader, who is currently in prison but still communicates with gang leadership, the indictment claims. By Frank Main and Jon Seidel Jan 26, 2021, 4:55pm PST As a street gang, the Gangster Disciples had a board of directors, governors, regents, coordinators and, of course, soldiers to do the dirty work. The Robbins Park District let Yates stage his food giveaway in a parking lot down the street from the suburbs police station. Her husband Johnny Jackson was a board member of the Gangster Disciples, which, according to federal prosecutors, sold more than $100 million a year in drugs and, at its peak, had more than 6,000 members. Assistant governors collect dues from individual groups, called "counts" or "decks.". Jackson, 48, recently wrote a letter to U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber, thanking him for his freedom and saying he and his wife had started several ventures, including a clothing line and The Visionaries Initiative, an anti-violence group. Coach Ezra Hendrickson, Fire looking to prove doubters wrong, Baseball quiz: Remember what happened after Jackie, Kahleah Copper: Precious mettle for the new-look Sky. James Yates was sentenced two decades ago to life in prison after a jury found that he was a governor of the Gangster Disciples in charge of distributing drugs for the street gang in Chicagos south suburbs. "They were very disciplined, very organized," Sanders said. With the charges unsealed today, we are taking an important, powerful step in the fight to disrupt and dismantle gangs operating in this region. Basically, they got de facto life sentences for drugs, Khalalah Jackson says of her husband and his co-defendants. Dobbins and Griffin were arrested later in 2018, Dobbins for drug possession and Griffin in a separate case for illegal possession of a gun. Murder in aid of racketeering is a death- eligible offense. The Governor-of-Governors and Governors set member recruitment goals, enforce gang rules, collect and disperse dues and funds, and approve criminal activity to be carried out by gang members. Domestic Cannabis Suppression / Eradication Program, Red Ribbon Toolkit - Resources For Your Community, DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Intelligence Research Specialist Job Announcements, Schedule A Hiring Authority: Intelligence Research Specialist, Privacy Impact Assessment and Management Information Systems, Victim Witness Assistance Program Resources. The Gangster Disciples have a clear organizational structure which reportedly includes a chairman, board members, governor of governors, governor, chief enforcer and count. Perry Harris, 29, of Cape Girardeau, an alleged Treasurer and Chief of Security for the state of Missouri, is charged with RICO conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and related firearms crimes. The Gangster Disciples is highly structured, disciplined and deadly, according to U.S. Attorney John Horn in Atlanta. 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.. Craig . The indictment describes the Gangster Disciples as a violent gang with a long history of lawlessness in the United States. Hoover who prosecutors have called the most notorious gang leader in Chicagos modern history isnt charged in the indictment, which targets leaders of the Gangster Disciples in downstate Illinois and eastern Missouri in a racketeering case that includes two murders. All rights reserved. LMPD will utilize intelligence-led policing in identifying and harnessing these issues in our city.. Other acts of violence alleged as part of the conspiracy include a nightclub stabbing in East St. Louis, Illinois, a nonfatal shooting in Cape Girardeau,and multiple unsuccessful murder plots. Yates volunteered at some of them. You have to harm or kill somebody as part of your initiation, there's a lot of torture that might be involved, Sanders said. The U.S. attorney in Atlanta announced on Wednesday a sweeping racketeering indictment against the Gangster Disciples, a multistate criminal organization accused or murder, extortion, drug dealing on a large scale, prostitution, financial fraud and more. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. The case was unsealed today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. These are the people who keep gangs like the Gangster Disciples alive, year in and year out, generation after generation. Criminal Investigation is proud to work alongside our law enforcement partners in this case to bring these criminals to justice.. The symbol of the Black Gangster Disciple Nation stemmed from the three previous gangs just mentioned above. David Barksdale continued to try and improve the Englewood neighborhood, while Larry Hoover put out a hit on a man who was subsequently shot in the head multiple times. Because, I gotta admit its good.. Gang members had suspected the second man might do the same, prosecutors said. To have his name continuously thrown into the affairs of others and to be used as a scapegoat for criminal activity he has no connection to needs to cease.. "He's pulling a gun from his waistband," Sanders said. The Gangster Disciples is a violent gang that began in Chicago in the 1970s when the Black Disciples and the Supreme Gangsters merged, the Atlanta indictment says. Each "count" also has a Chief Enforcer. They use front organizations to integrate themselves in the communities they live in. Governor: Head of the state organization, or "count," of the Gangster Disciples. Chief Enforcer: The gang member in each state who is responsible for enforcing codes, rules and regulations of the gang. Yates says he knows that many prosecutors, law enforcement officers and others will never believe hes now a do-gooder. The gang employs a structured hierarchy, with leadership positions such as national Board Members and state Governors. Each of the defendants is alleged to be a member or leader of the Gangster Disciples and to have conspired to conduct the gangs affairs through a pattern of racketeering. "They were one of the biggest gangs in Chicago dealing drugs.". The Black Disciples Gangster Nation colors are blue and black, and they use a Star of David-like tattoo with tridents protruding from the upper angles as their symbol. East St. Louis, Ill. The United States Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced today that seven alleged members of the violent Gangster Disciples gang, including top national and state leaders, have been charged in a federal indictment accusing them of a years-long interstate RICO conspiracy involving multiple murders, drug trafficking, and other crimes. Flipboard James Yates, a former high-ranking member of the Gangster Disciples, formed the Revitalization of Robbins Initiative after his life prison sentence was overturned and he was released in April under the federal First Step Act. InfoTracer is not a "consumer reporting agency" under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ("FCRA"), and does not provide "consumer reports" under the FCRA. He says he got help for his food giveaway from bigger organizations such as Black Men United. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. "he was responsible for violence drug trafficking and murders, including orchestrating the murder of a . Barksdale died in 1974 of complications from internal damage suffered in a shooting. Polling Place: Is Patrick Kane the greatest Blackhawk ever? To enforce discipline among Gangster Disciples and adherence to the strict rules and structure, members and associates were routinely fined, beaten and even murdered for failing to follow the gangs rules. In addition to the RICO conspiracy, all 16 defendants are charged with a cocaine-distribution conspiracy, and Crawford, Shaw, Taylor, Champion and Bowers are charged with seven counts of attempted murder in aid of racketeering and using a firearm during the commission of those offenses. Robinson was revered for breaking the color barrier, but dont forget about those who followed. Utilizing firearms to injure or intimidate others cannot be tolerated and there is no question that the public is safer today because of the hard work, dedication, and collaboration of all of the agencies that played a part in this investigation., Todays indictment is a result of investigative efforts in our Fairview Heights Resident Agency and strong partnerships with federal, state and local law enforcement partners, said Sean Cox, FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge. Each state additionally has a "Chief Enforcer," responsible for enforcing the gang's codes and regulations. This illustrates, when we work together, how effective our law enforcement alliances are in pursuing and eradicating violent street gangs to make our communities safer., TheBOP takes seriously ourmission toprotect the safety and security of our correctional institutions and the public, said Miranda Faust, Administrator of the Federal Bureau of Prisons' (BOP) Intelligence and Counter Terrorism Branch. Tommy Lee Wilkins (Holloway), aka Tommy Gunz, 28, of Memphis, was a member of the security team in Memphis. There are a lot of people out there willing to join gangs, and eager to get easy money from criminal activity. Reverend Jesse Jackson was a frequent visitor who encouraged BGDN and other gangs to be politically active in demanding job opportunities in the construction industry and to foster accountability from local businesses. Five Gangster Disciple members were convicted after an April . Shauntay Craig, 37, of Birmingham, Alabama, held the rank of Gangster Disciples "Board Member". The violence perpetrated by the Gangster Disciples in this district and nationwide has long been a particular focus of our top law enforcement agencies. Download WDTN Gangster Disciples Indictment, Download NDGA Gangster Disciples Indictment. The decision to merge the two gangs came from a fear that gang warfare would decimate the black youth of the region. Racketeering, such as the alleged charges today, brazenly facilitates all kinds of illegal dealings that negatively affect the community. Their children got toys. almost corporate organization spread out over several states. Attorneys Jerry Kitchen, Samuel Stringfellow, Beth Boswell, and Michelle Parks of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Tennessee. The two rival gangsters united together to form the Black Gangster Disciple Nation ( BGDN ). Yates and Harrell see it as ironic that Trump, who has refused to denounce white supremacists, signed the law that allowed Yates, a Black man, to leave prison. The results of that poll, in a word: Oof. Official websites use .gov Nothing seemed to have changed in his hometown since he was arrested in the 1990s. Date: January 22, 2021 Contact: newsroom@ci.irs.gov Atlanta Shauntay Craig, aka Shake, and Donald Glass, aka Smurf, both leaders of the national gang, the Gangster Disciples, have been sentenced for racketeering conspiracy involving murder. We are committed to dismantling violent gangs like the Gangster Disciples and holding their members accountable for criminal conduct., These charges target national and state leaders of one of the most notorious street gangs in America, said Steven D. Weinhoeft, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. CHICAGO (AP) _ Five members of the Gangster Disciples street gang have been indicted in the killings of two fellow gang members, in what one prosecutor Thursday called ``cold, steely, calculated business decisions. One of the victims was cooperating with investigators. The newspaper, however, acknowledged the power of Hoovers political activism to combat systemic racism, which then included a political action committee dubbed V.O.T.E. "The violence that we're seeing now concerns me," Sanders said. The BOP takes seriously our mission to protect the safety and security of our correctional institutions and the public, said Miranda Faust, Administrator of the Federal Bureau of Prisons Intelligence and Counter Terrorism Branch. Reporting from Washington . The Drug Enforcement Administration Cape Girardeau Resident Officeinvestigated this case with theATF, FBI, Federal Bureau of Prisons, IRS Criminal Investigation, Missouri Department of Corrections, Illinois State Police, the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis, Bridgeton Police Department, Cape Girardeau Police Department, and Chicago Police Department. They'll usually deal cocaine and heroin, according to the Department of Justice. Information obtained through InfoTracer is not to be used for any unlawful purposes such as stalking or harassing others, or investigating public officials or celebrities. But recent indictments against Gangster Disciples members downstate and in Atlanta suggest that the corporate structure of the gang has remained in place. "We can't ignore that.". Rev. He wasnt supposed to come home at all. Dominque Maxwell, 28, of Cape Girardeau, the alleged Assistant Governor of the state of Missouri, is charged with RICO conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and related firearms crimes. As one member of Yates crew flipped burgers on a grill and another worked a DJ booth, parents pulled up in cars, kids in tow. For Yates, 20 years in prison was enough, according to Safer. 2023 InfoPay, Inc. All Rights Reserved. He reached in to a box and pulled out a copy of a letter from Trump on White House letterhead. Warren Griffin, 51, an alleged Board Member in the Gangster Disciples is originally from Lancaster, Kentucky, according to a federal indictment unsealed in January. The indictment also alleges various acts of drug trafficking by Gangster Disciples members, including an ongoing scheme to smuggle the synthetic drug K2 into Missouri state prisons. An official website of the United States government. The U.S. attorney in Atlanta announced on Wednesday a sweeping racketeering indictment against the Gangster Disciples, a multistate criminal organization accused or murder, extortion, drug. Two leaders of the Gangster Disciples, a national street gang with roots in Chicago, were sentenced on Friday for a racketeering conspiracy involving murder. May 4, 2016 / 3:51 PM / CBS/AP. May 4, 2016 1:29 PM PT. "By arresting these particular king pins we were actually taking off a lot of drugs, but more importantly we were stopping a lot of the violence," Sanders said. On April 28, 2018, Clemon, Maxwell, and Harris, on orders from Smith, allegedly killed Leroy Allen as part of a leadership dispute at a Gangster Disciples meeting in Bridgeton, Missouri. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Walton, Ahmad and Laderris Dickerson, 45, of Chicago, are also charged with carjacking and Walton and Dickerson are charged with a related firearms offense. You always have naysayers, he says. The availability and accuracy of information is largely dependent on various public sources from which the information is aggregated. Cases like these make a difference, and I want to thank all the law enforcement and U.S. Attorney Office and Organized Crime and Gang Section prosecutors who worked so hard to build this case., Atlanta has historically been resistant to the incursion of these national gangs, but unfortunately todays indictment shows how this landscape has changed in just the last few years, as the Gangster Disciples are only one of several gangs that now boast a strong foothold, said U.S. Attorney John Horn. On April 28, 2018, Clemon, Maxwell, and Harris, on orders from Smith, allegedly killed Leroy Allen as part of a leadership dispute at a Gangster Disciples meeting in Bridgeton, Missouri. By using InfoTracer you agree to comply with the conditions set forth in the InfoTracer terms of service. Frank Smith, 47, of Naperville, Illinois, an alleged national Board Member, is charged withRacketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO)conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and related firearms crimes. The Black Disciples Gangster Nation is one of the primary drug-dealing organizations in the Midwest, selling up to $100 million in drugs per year. The lawlessness these gangs bring to our cities is terribly destructive and oftentimes difficult to prosecute. At the time, the leaders of two different groups, the Black Disciples and the Supreme Gangsters, aligned their groups and created the Gangster Disciples (GD). After a somewhat-quiet offseason, the Fire are widely picked to finish near the bottom of the Eastern Conference and miss the playoffs again. Frank Smith, 47, of Naperville, Illinois, an alleged national Board Member, is charged with RICO conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and related firearms crimes. After a somewhat-quiet offseason, the Fire are widely picked to finish near the bottom of the Eastern Conference and miss the playoffs again. The RICO conspiracies charged here include attempted murder, narcotics trafficking, extortion, firearms crimes, obstruction of justice and other crimes in furtherance of the Gangster Disciples enterprise and to raise funds for the gang. 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The federal indictment was unsealed today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. It is a highly structured. Sanders has been in law enforcement for 40 years and previously served as the Kentucky State Police Commissioner. Among the crimes alleged in the indictment are two gang-related murders. A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. The Black Disciple Gangster Nation (BDGN) is a gang that was formed in the south side of Chicago in 1960 when two rival gangs, the Black Disciple Nation (led by David Barksdale) and the Gangster Nation (led by Larry Hoover) combined to become one group under co-leadership. Larry Hoover was given another life sentence in 1993 after federal officials wiretapped him in prison and charged him with drugs, extortion and running a 30,000-member criminal enterprise from behind bars. The charges and allegations in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Mobely, Glass, Craig, ONeal, Covington and Travis Riley, 35, of Wichita, Kansas are also charged with various drug distribution crimes and Mobely and Glass are further charged with related firearms crimes. They are heavily organized, using code language to communicate, and have been reported in the news to use children as young as 8 years old to smuggle guns and drugs and carry out gang executions. Hoover attorney Justin Moore said Tuesday he wasnt aware of the new indictment and questioned the idea that Hoover could have been involved in gang affairs from behind bars. The Atlanta case is being investigated by the FBI Atlanta's Safe Streets Gang Task Force (composed of members of the FBI, Alpharetta Police Department (PD), Atlanta PD, Clayton County PD, DeKalb PD, Forest Park PD, GA Dept. Sometimes they wear Chicago Bulls, Chicago White Sox and other teams clothing from their original city, though they do not always match colors. ATLANTA -- Alleged members of the Gangster Disciples, including high-ranking leaders and a former Atlanta-area police officer who prosecutors say claimed to be a . The federal indictment was unsealed today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. See GD. Many were recruited while in prison. Police search for suspects in string of armed robberies in Radcliff, Louisville man killed days before signing record deal, mother seeking justice, 'We got multiple calls': Suspect in car break-in turns himself in after WHAS11's Crime Stoppers report. Certain defendants were also charged with murder, attempted murder, and various firearms crimes. The gang employs a structured hierarchy, with leadership positions such as national Board Members and state Governors. Each of the defendants is alleged to be a member or leader of the Gangster Disciples and to have conspired to conduct the gangs affairs through a pattern of racketeering. The Black Disciple Gangster Nation (BDGN) is a gang that was formed in the south side of Chicago in 1960 when two rival gangs, the Black Disciple Nation (led by David Barksdale) and the Gangster Nation (led by Larry Hoover) combined to become one group under co-leadership. Dismantling violent gangs at the highest levels remains a priority for the U.S. Attorney's Office., Today's Gangster Disciple arrests across nine states merely marks the first wave of the FBIs strategic campaign to dismantle this violent criminal organization, said Special Agent in Charge Johnson. They then recruited heavily in Chicago, within jails and prisons, and across the United States. Imprisoned Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover, who says hes no longer involved with the gang and is asking for an early release from his life sentence, promoted two men to top posts in the gang while locked up in a federal super-max prison in Colorado, according to an indictment unsealed Monday in East St. Louis. And I said, Absolutely. . Many were skeptical, including the Chicago Tribune. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. This investigation demonstrates ATFs commitment and the commitment of our law enforcement partners to ensure that Missouri and Illinois communities remain a safe place to live, work and raise families. This case results from investigations by ATF, FBI, Federal Bureau of Prisons, IRS Criminal Investigation, Missouri Department of Corrections, Illinois State Police, the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis, Bridgeton Police Department, Cape Girardeau Police Department, and Chicago Police Department. Certain defendants were also charged with murder, attempted murder, and various firearms crimes. Sanders said hes happy to be back policing in his hometown of Louisville, but shakes his head at the uptick of killings as of late. At the top of the national group is the "Chairman," a man known as L.H. Murder in aid of racketeering is a death-eligible offense. Griffin is in a federal prison in Kentucky. The median income of Robbins, a town of 5,400 a few miles south of Chicago, is only $13,000, according to the last census.