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. Yolanda Jones covers criminal justice issues and general assignment news for The Daily Memphian. Memphis, Tennessee serves as the Southern headquarters for Tennessee based street organizations in the Southern United States. The boy, his brother 8-year-old Cedric Dotson, and Jessie Dotson's mother were key prosecution witnesses. Willie Boyd Hill, a self-described retired gang member, said the "Gangster Disciples'" local leader Doc Holliday discussed punishment for Cecil Dotson Jr. but they were not involved. One recruit was allegedly killed when he failed to show up for a neighborhood clean-up event organized by the gang. In April 2015, 19 Gangster Disciples members were arrested in a heroin and cocaine bust in the Riverside area. The State of Tennessee was divided into specific area codes that defined the separate divisions or "sets" of the Gangster Disciples. In 1974 due to ideological differences they split into two separate gangs. The Associated Press. "It's a hard reality that many communities across the country do not enjoy a sense of security because of the Gangster Disciples," DOJ investigator David Jaffey said. Johnny Smith, 61, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, on November 14, 2018, U.S. District Court Judge Samuel H. Mays Jr., sentenced Smith to 60 months; 4 years supervised release. They were also using fear and intimidation to terrorize communities. "He had the courage to come in here and point out his uncle.". Tawana Rice, 42, conspiracy to commit money laundering, on June 18, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Rice to time served; 2 years supervised release. "Alleged high ranking members and leaders of the . 16 suspected Gangster Disciples leaders arrested, RAW: DOJ releases info on Gangster Disciples indictments. Sign up for our morning and evening editions, plus breaking news. Memphis, TN Six Gangster Disciples, including the "Enforcer" for the State of Tennessee, have pled guilty to conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity. Joseph Brown, 43, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, on September 6, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Brown to 34 months; 3 years supervised release. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, money laundering, and violent organizations. The defense was disappointed in the speed of the verdict, said attorney Marty McAfee. OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations, and to diminish the violence and other criminal activity associated with the drug trade. Underneath the Chairman are "Board Members," who maintain contact with state and regional leaders--the "Governor-of-Governors," "Governors," and"Assistant Governors.". Dotson showed no emotion, looking straight ahead as the verdict was announced. A 37-year-old Memphis man, a "regional enforcer" for the Gangster Disciples in Tennessee, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise . "They might have been thinking about as it was being put forward. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Experienced police officers who have testified have said the attack left a crime scene that was the most gruesome they've seen. All rights reserved. 'Its members have for too long indiscriminately preyed upon and infected the good people of our communities like a cancer.'. Gangster Disciples long have been the predominant gang in the Englewood neighborhood. Two years later, two of the survivors pointed to their "Uncle Junior" as the man who shot their dad and slashed at them knives, enough to convince the jury that Dotson was guilty of six murders and not the gang members he said committed the crimes. All rights reserved. Public Affairs BD(Black disciple) and GD(Gangster Disciples) later becoming enemies. Those same jurors will decide beginning Tuesday if Dotson should be sentenced to death by injection. Witnesses said they heard Robinson tell Gangster Disciple members . The Gangster Disciples are part of the "Folk Nation." Some members will claim to be members of "Growth and Development" and out of criminal activity. Theotis Evans, 42, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, on May 31, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Evans to 24 months; 3 years supervised release. Memphis, TN - Six Gangster Disciples, including the "Enforcer" for the State of Tennessee, have pled guilty to conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity.U.S. Attacking this from a structural standpoint of a gang is usually what were focused on, dealing with that organized crime, Dunavant said. Gangster Disciples history and positions of authority, Woman accused of driving into home, killing former pro basketball player Galen Young granted diversion, Memphis and Atlanta announced a major bust. Operation Gangsters Paradise finally came to a close Thursday with the law enforcement giving out time to 34 people. Rico Fason, 33, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana, on May 20, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Fason to 90 months; 4 years supervised release. Home to legendary communities like Orange Mound and the heart of South Memphis, an area from Crump Blvd. All rights reserved. 'The Gangster Disciples are a highly organized and ruthless gang that recognizes no geographical boundaries,' said Britt Johnson, head of the FBI's Atlanta field office. He is not charged in the indictment. Memphis, TN - The "Gangster Disciples" Chief of Security involved in the violent shooting that occurred at Hillview Apartments was sentenced to 263 months in federal prison. Everyone in town expected this to be a whipping. YG QT [400 Murda Gang]For every four men in Memphis, two will eventually join a gang. The comments below have been moderated in advance. He testified that during the attack, he went to call for police and tried to fight off his uncle before ending up in the bathtub with a kitchen knife in his head. Marshals. FOX13 learned the Gangster Disciples, a prominent street gang with a large presence in the Memphis area, made a threat toward Mississippi authorities. Marcus Joyner, 35, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, on July 12, 2018, U.S. District Court Judge Samuel H. Mays sentenced Joyner to 30 months; 2 years supervised release. WASHINGTONSix alleged members of the violent Gangster Disciples Gang have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in the attempted murders of five teenagers in South Memphis, Tennessee. By FOX13Memphis.com News Staff. Coverage of the key happenings in our city including city hall, education, and more. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Each state additionally has a "Chief Enforcer," responsible for enforcing the gang's codes and regulations. They organize community clean-up events, "Stop the Violence" rallies, and events to feed the homeless as a way to mask their criminal activities. Sinaloa Cartel distributor who supplied Crips, Gangster Disciples, Vice Lords for two decades gets 15-year term White House designates most threatening transnational crime groups . You need to be a member of Gangsters Inc. - www.gangstersinc.org to add comments! In 2021, there were approximately 102 gangs with 13,400 gang members in the city. On March 9, 2020, U.S. District Court Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr., sentenced Crawford to 300 months in federal prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. Sprouse held the prior rank of Chief of Security for a section located within Memphis. Think Again", "ICE works with local law enforcement to arrest 26 gang members in Memphis", "Gangs are making their way to the suburbs", "Mississippi School District To Clarify Gang Policy As Part Of Settlement Of ACLU Lawsuit", "Police Say Teens Hard to Control In Mob Robberies", "Fear of Gang Wars if Memphis High Schools Merge", "Prosecutors: Female defendant bit, punched, scratched and spit at Memphis guards", "Three Charged with Forcing Child into Prostitution", "Sentencing set for Craig Petties, head of Memphis-based drug gang with ties to Mexican cartel", "DJ Paul's Half Brother Craig Petties Linked To BMF", "Cousins on trial in Memphis as hit men for Sinaloa Cartel and Craig Petties", "Blood Trade: The Story of Craig Petties", "Ex-NBA player Wright's death remains mystery", "Gang Member Teams with Klansman to Protest Memphis KKK Rally", "Mob of Teens Knockouts Three In Kroger Parking Lot", "Three People Beaten by Mob of Teens in Kroger Parking Lot", 10 teens, 1 adult charged in brutal Kroger parking lot attack, "Forty-Eight Alleged Members of Gangster Disciples Indicted on Federal Racketeering Charges", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gangs_in_Memphis,_Tennessee&oldid=1123711637, Organizations based in Memphis, Tennessee, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, In 2014, a mob of 100 to 125 teenagers attacked people at random in a. He also told someone he killed people as a hit man for the gang. "Gangster Disciples exposed in trial," 2 July 1997,The Pantagraph Bloomington "Big 4: Gangster Disciples, Vice Lords, Crips, . Do not sell or share my personal information. Dedrick Chism, 44, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana, on September 12, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Chism to 60 months; 4 years supervised release. OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations, and to diminish the violence and other criminal activity associated with the drug trade. 2 Gang Sets. At one point, Cedric pointed at a photo of him in the hospital. Forty-eight alleged members of the violent Gangster Disciples Gang - including the top leaders in Tennessee and Georgia - have been charged in two indictments and accused of conspiring to participate in a racketeering enterprise that included multiple murders, attempted murder and drug crimes. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Travis Bobo, 57, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin, on February 25, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Bobo to 120 months; 5 years supervised release. Updated: January 10, 2021 4:00 AM CT | Published: January 10, 2021 4:00 AM CT, MSCS eyes 36 acres north of Shelby Farms for new high school, Memphis International Airport receives $15M in FAA funding, Music Fest CEO says surprise additions to lineup coming soon, Working in a world where being a shooter is cool, Sprawling $50M Mississippi River restoration project proposed. Anthony Hope, 49, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, on July 17, 2018, U.S. District Court Judge Samuel H. Mays sentenced Hope to 100 months; 3 years supervised release. In 2021, there were approximately 102 gangs with 13,400 gang members in the city. He was in charge of supervising criminal activities and for killing and issuing kill ordersagainst Gangster Disciples who broke organizational rules. Copyright 2016 WMC Action News 5. 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. [9], According to the Governor's Public Safety Forum on Tennessee Gangs, gangs operate in Memphis' rural communities like Millington, Mason, and, Northaven, and in low income neighborhoods of North Memphis, South Memphis, Raleigh, Frayser, Whitehaven, Binghampton, Orange Mound, Hickory Hill and Riverside.[10]. Market data provided by Factset. The fact that this star is known as the Star of David pays homage to co-founder David . Memphis, TN - Demarcus Deon Crawford, 36, a/k/a/ "Trip," has been sentenced to 300 months in federal prison for conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise. The message from these cases is clear: No matter what your role is in the conspiracy, or what your position, title, or gang nickname is, if you are a member of a criminal gang, your days are numbered and there will be a reckoning.". The Gangster Disciples promotes its enterprise through member-only activities and provides support to members charged with or incarcerated for gang-related offenses. RICO is a federal law that allows prosecutors to impose a harsherpunishment for extremely organized crime. Rules and Codes The following written rules were recorded by Jacobs (1983) in the 1970's. . According to the superseding indictment, the defendants named in the RICO conspiracy committed attempted murders; robberies; assaults; distribution of large quantities of cocaine, crack and marijuana; firearms trafficking; kidnappings; intimidations of witnesses and victims; extortion; obstruction of justice; and other offenses in furtherance of the Gangster Disciples criminal enterprise and to promote and enhance the members position within the gang. The counts' Chief Enforcers additionally head up "enforcement teams" and "clean-up crews," comprised of members who enforce the rules and administer discipline against those who do not. The Gangster Disciples literature states that they "would overturn this system without hesitation because they have absolutely nothing to lose. In Georgia alone, the gang was responsible for at least 10 murders and 12 attempted murders, Horn said. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) A leader of the Gangster Disciples street gang in Tennessee has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison, federal prosecutors said. Barrett Young, sentenced for possession with intent to distribute, was the last to be sentenced. This page was last edited on 25 November 2022, at 07:31. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. "It's like putting the Crips and Bloods together in a national convention. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 1.1 South Memphis. Assistant governors collect dues from individual groups, called "counts" or "decks.". However, prosecutors did identify some of the men they expect to face the harshest punishments: As DOJ and local law enforcement made the indictments in WestTennessee known, investigators in northern Georgia made a similar announcement. There is no parole in the federal system. According to an FBI report, the Black Gangster Disciples were active in Memphis in the 1980s. The scope of the Gangster Disciples crimes is wide-ranging and consistent throughout its national operation. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; JPD Gang Enforcement Team; Memphis Police Department; Shelby County Sheriffs Office; 28th District West Tennessee Drug Task Force; 26th, 25th, and 30th Judicial District Attorneys Generals Offices; Sheriffs Offices for Tipton, DeSoto, Madison, and Fayette Counties; and the Police Departments of Bartlett, Germantown and Columbia. Marco Antonio Cruz, Jr., 30, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin, on July 18, 2018, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Cruz to 51 months. "They also committed assaults, kidnappings, and attempted murders against individuals they believe to be rival gang members," Stanton added. Derrick Crumpton, whowas in charge of issuing orders to kill rival gang members and coordinating criminal activity. Then in October 2015, aGangster Disciples member went before a judgeto answer for killing an18-year-old. According to the superseding indictment, the Gangster Disciples enterprise has a highly organized structure with a nationwide reach. 586. Held at the . Gangster Disciples described as a 'highly organized and ruthless gang' An indictment filed in federal court in Atlanta named 32 people and a second indictment in Memphis, Tennessee, charged 16 more Foyice Clark, 62, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, on July 31, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Clark to 57 months; 5 years supervised release. Rafael Garza, 47, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, on July 31, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge Samuel H. Mays Jr., sentenced Garza to 210 months. Attorneys Beth Boswell and Annie Christoff of the Western District of Tennessee and Trial Attorney Shauna Hale of the Criminal Division Organized Crime and Gang Section are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The multi-state operation was brought to a close on May 4, 2016. EEO Report. 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Assistant U.S. In the 2000s, the music genre gained acceptance after winning an Academy Award for the song "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp" from Hustle & Flow. Comments are closed. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, This office is proud to work with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to disrupt the Gangster Disciples gang and punish their leaders and members for the violence and lawlessness that they perpetrate across West Tennessee. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. Known for rap icons and pioneers like Young Dolph, DJ Paul of Three 6 Mafia, 8Ball & MJG, Playa Fly, and a number of other rappers, South Memphis hoods are some of the most known in the city, in a section that was once known as Funky Town. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); *Leave a comment below, especially if something is wrong or missing.*. We're not going to give up. Jessie Dotson's defense contended the massacre was done by gang members who were angry at Cecil Dotson and were seeking to punish him for telling police that one of his fellow "Gangster Disciples" had drugs in the apartment where he was staying. The Department of Justice joined local law enforcement in Memphis on Wednesdayto announce a major break in an investigation known as Operation 38 Special. (901) 544-4231 The Gangster Disciples are a large gang operating in and around Memphis and headquartered in Chicago. The defense tried to point the finger at several known gang members. Memphis, TN - Two members of the violent "Gangster Disciples" street gang were sentenced to federal prison. Memphis Gangs Key: Red = Blood/Vice Lords | Blue = Crips/Gangster Disciples | Black = Unknown | Dark Purple = Mixed | Green = former housing projects . by the ballot or the bullet." . Cherri.Green@usdoj.gov, Federal Agencies and Law Enforcement Partners, https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdtn/pr/16-alleged-gangster-disciples-members-indicted-federal-racketeering-charges. Gangs don't . Roy Rodgers, 54, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, on March 12, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Rodgers to 27 months; 3 years supervised release. The Gangster Disciples first emerged in significant numbers in Memphis, Tennessee in the 1980s, the first modern street gang to do so. Farm Heroes Saga, the #4 Game on iTunes. Tiffany Harper, 48, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, on March 13, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge Samuel H. Mays sentenced Harper to time served, 24 months supervised release.
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