Today, hes distributing a different kind of commodity in those same suburbs: food. 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. Two leaders of the Gangster Disciples, a national street gang with roots in Chicago, were sentenced on Friday for a racketeering conspiracy involving murder. The results of that poll, in a word: Oof. GD hasa very structured hierarchical organization. Ronald Safer, a defense lawyer who was a federal prosecutor on the Gangster Disciples case, has said hed still prosecute Yates and other ranking members of the gang but would seek significantly less prison time for most. Robinson was revered for breaking the color barrier, but dont forget about those who followed. how interested you are in the Fire, whose season begins Saturday against New York City FC at Soldier Field. On May 18, 2018, Griffin and Dobbins are accused of killing Ernest Wilson, a rival Board Member, in Chicago, Illinois. Each state additionally has a "Chief Enforcer," responsible for enforcing the gang's codes and regulations. Reporting from Washington . Copyright 2016 WMC Action News 5. Male members of GD are referred to as "Brothers of the Struggle," and female members are referred to as "Sisters of the Struggle.". Lancaster is in Garrard County, about 100 miles east of Louisville. Gang members are known to wear Georgetown Hoyas or Duke Blue Devils clothing. LMPD will utilize intelligence-led policing in identifying and harnessing these issues in our city.. Ashlee Rezin Garcia / Sun-Times Hoover is serving a life sentence in a super-max prison in Colorado. The "Treasurer" assists the governor in collecting dues for each state for the national Treasurer. Contact reporter Heather Fountaine athfountaine@whas11.comand follow her onTwitter (@WHAS11Heather)andFacebook. 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The Memphis case is being investigated by a multi-agency task force consisting of the FBI; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Memphis Multi-Agency Gang Unit; the Memphis PD; the Shelby County, Tennessee Sheriffs Office; the Jackson PD Gang Enforcement Team; the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; the Madison County, Tennessee Sheriffs Department; the 28th District West Tennessee Drug Task Force; the Tipton County, Tennessee, Sheriff's Office; the 26th Judicial District Attorney Generals Office; the 25th Judicial District Attorney Generals Office; the Atascosa County, Tennessee District Attorneys Office; and the Shelby County District Attorney Generals Office. He wasnt supposed to come home at all. This prosecution underscores that coordinated criminal activity will be met with a coordinated and focused law enforcement response by the Criminal Division and our law enforcement partners at the federal, state, and local level. 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. They are also represented by a black flag (bandana). See GD. Identification: Symbolism plays a large part in the Gangster Disciples' culture. 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. how interested you are in the Fire, whose season begins Saturday against New York City FC at Soldier Field. 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. [citation . 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. The Atlanta RICO conspiracy indictment names the following defendants and their alleged roles within the Gangster Disciples: Shauntay Craig, 37, of Birmingham, held the rank of Gangster Disciples board member; Alonzo Walton, 47, of Atlanta, held at different relevant times the positions of governor of Georgia and governor of governors, the latter position controlling Georgia, Florida, Texas, Indiana and South Carolina; Kevin Clayton, 43, of Decatur, Georgia, was the chief enforcer for the state of Georgia; Donald Glass, 26, of Decatur, served as a first coordinator of the eastside group of the Gangster Disciples; Lewis Mobely, 38, of Atlanta, was an enforcer; Vertious Wall, 40, of Marietta, was a first coordinator for the Macon Gangster Disciples group; Adrian Jackson, 37, of San Jose, California, was the national treasurer for the Gangster Disciples; Terrence Summers, 45, of Birmingham, held at different relevant times the positions of governor of Alabama and governor of governors for Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and Florida; Markell White, 43, of Atlanta, was a regional leader in Macon; Ronald McMorris, 34, of Atlanta, was first coordinator of the Atlanta group; Perry Green, 29, of Decatur, was a member of the Gangster Disciples and acted as enforcer of a Gangster Disciples group; Dereck Taylor, 29, of Macon, was a member of the Gangster Disciples and acted as security for a Macon group; Alvis ONeal, 37,of Denver, was a senior member of and money launderer for the Gangster Disciples; Jeremiah Covington, 32, of Valdosta, Georgia, was a first coordinator for the Valdosta region; Antonio Ahmad, 33, of Atlanta, was the chief of security for the state of Georgia; Eric Manney, 39, of Atlanta, was a member of the Gangster Disciples and stored multiple guns at his house; Quiana Franklin, 33, of Birmingham, served as treasurer for the state of Alabama; Frederick Johnson, 37, of Marietta, was a chief enforcer for a Gangster Disciples group; Charles Wingate,25, of Conyers, Georgia, was chief of security for a Covington, Georgia group; Vancito Gumbs, 25, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, was a member of the Gangster Disciples while at the same time serving as a police officer with the DeKalb County Police Department; Thomas Pasby, 42, of Cochran, Georgia, was a member of the Gangster Disciples; Denise Carter, 41, of Detroit, was a member of the Gangster Disciples; Carlton King Jr., 25, of Cochran, was a member of the Gangster Disciples; Kelvin Sneed, 26, of Cochran, was a member of the Gangster Disciples; Arrie Freeney, 32, of Detroit, was a member of the Gangster Disciples; Myrick Stevens, 26, of Madison, Wisconsin, was a member of the Gangster Disciples; Curtis Thomas, 45, of Cochran, was a member of the Gangster Disciples; Yohori Epps, 36,of Marietta, was a member of the Gangster Disciples; and. April 4, law enforcement in Memphis and Atlanta announced a major bust which they said resulted in the arrest ofdozens of leaders in GD. "They know when we make the arrest of a 12-year-old, it's going to not really go very far.". The notorious gang started was founded by Larry Hoover in Chicago in the 1960s but has since spread to at least 31 states and 110 cities, according to the Department of Justice. Gangster Disciples Gang Initiation and Colors, a political action committee dubbed V.O.T.E. Emailassign@whas11.com, visit ourFacebook pageorTwitter feed. Boxes containing a mattress and toys are piled in the arms of a volunteer unloading a truck during an Oct. 15 giveaway in Robbins. Certain defendants were also charged with murder, attempted murder, and various firearms crimes. 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. As part of our response to the coronavirus, I prioritized sending nutritious food from our farmers to families in need throughout America.. 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. Governor of Governors: Regional officer in charge of the governors. Underneath the Chairman are "Board Members," who maintain contact with state and regional leaders--the "Governor-of-Governors," "Governors," and"Assistant Governors.". Dobbins is being held in the same prison where Hoover is being held, the federal super-max in Florence, Colorado, according to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. Experts theorize that flooding the market with drugs was intentional by politicians to imprison community-oriented blacks and hippies to suppress any dissent and prevent them from voting. The Federal Bureau of Investigation today announces the arrest of Shauntay Lamarr Craig, an alleged leader of the violent Gangster Disciples criminal enterprise, at New Orleans, Louisiana. Here are the key players and concepts, according to the indictment. John Harrell, pastor of Proviso Missionary Baptist Church in Maywood, says his Black Men United group has organized many large food drives in the Chicago area and in other parts of the country this year. Griffin is in a federal prison in Kentucky. Vancito Gumbs, 25, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, was a member of the Gangster Disciples while at the . Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. 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. 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. For more information on the indictment on the Gangster Disciples members, click here. He asks, Can we do this in Robbins? Harrell says. 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. For Yates, 20 years in prison was enough, according to Safer. I am especially grateful for the support of the ATF and the many dedicated law enforcement officers at all levels of government who contributed to this investigation., ATF has no higher priority than investigating violent crime and ensuring that those who use firearms in furtherance of their criminal activities are held accountable, said Fred Winston, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Kansas City Field Division. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 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. That is why it is so significant that todays indictments charge top leaders within the Gangster Disciples. Hoover got arrested and went to prison and continued to run the gang from behind bars. Black blocks can strengthen Black communities, cities and states.. You have to harm or kill somebody as part of your initiation, there's a lot of torture that might be involved, Sanders said. This is a 70-year-old man in the twilight of his years who has serious medical complications and is seeking release to finally be with his wife, children and grandchildren after nearly 50 years of separation, Moore said. (WMC) - The Gangster Disciples is a dangerous gang founded in the 1970's in Chicago, Illinois. Murder in aid of racketeering is a death- eligible offense. Sanders launched a task force in the early 2000s with the DEA in Chicago focusing on taking out the Top 21 major players in organized crime, Gangster Disciples included. 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. 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. Some counts specifically name their enforcement teams, for example, "HATE Committee" and "BLACC Team" are two specially named teams. Download WDTN Gangster Disciples Indictment, Download NDGA Gangster Disciples Indictment. BOS, SOS: Brothers (or sisters) of the struggle. 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. 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. "For a long time, Louisville denied we had gangs, and I said it then, and I say it now, we have to recognize and be transparent that we have gangs, and they're committing a lot of this violence," Sanders said. 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. "He's pulling a gun from his waistband," Sanders said. All rights reserved. This is just one of the more than three dozen gangs found all over Tipton County. Robinson was revered for breaking the color barrier, but dont forget about those who followed. The decision to merge the two gangs came from a fear that gang warfare would decimate the black youth of the region. Larry Hoover made a statement in the 1990s claiming that he had put his violent past behind him and that GD now meant Growth and Development, not Gangster Disciples. The gang is well known for the distribution of narcotics and white collar crimes. LOUISVILLE, Ky. A group of seven men were indicted on federal racketeering charges in connection to the violent Gangster Disciples gang including an alleged high-ranking member originally from Kentucky, according to a release from the United States Department of Justice. Thirty individuals were taken into custody today and two remain at large. Polling Place: Is Patrick Kane the greatest Blackhawk ever? Criminal - Organized Crime and Gang Section. The federal racketeering indictment unsealed Wednesday depicts an almost corporate organization spread out over several states. The scope of the Gangster Disciples crimes is wide-ranging and consistent throughout the national operation. Gangster Disciples represent with the colors blue and black. The two rival gangsters united together to form the Black Gangster Disciple Nation ( BGDN ). On May 18, 2018, Griffin and Dobbins allegedly killed Ernest Wilson, a rival Board Member, in Chicago, Illinois. A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. John Harrell, pastor of Proviso Missionary Baptist Church in Maywood. Watch what we do. Criminal Investigation is proud to work alongside our law enforcement partners in this case to bring these criminals to justice.. An official website of the United States government. "He's checking the money to make sure it's real," Sanders detailed. The violence perpetrated by the Gangster Disciples in this district and nationwide has long been a particular focus of our top law enforcement agencies. None of those guys is reverting to the streets and getting involved in crime.. The Gangster Disciples is highly structured, disciplined and deadly, according to U.S. Attorney John Horn in Atlanta. Many were skeptical, including the Chicago Tribune. 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. The gang employs a structured hierarchy, with leadership positions such as national "Board Members" and state "Governors." "The long list of violent crimes alleged in this indictment - including two murders and multiple violent assaults - make plain the threat to our communities posed by criminal organizations like the Gangster Disciples," Nicholas L. McQuaid, Acting Assistant . Anthony Dobbins, 53, of Troy, Illinois, an alleged national Board Member, is charged with RICO conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, and related firearms crimes.