The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade of the Eastern District of Michigan, Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Departments Criminal Division, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Special Agent in Charge Robin Shoemaker of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Detroit Field Division, Special Agent in Charge David P. Gelios of the FBIs Detroit Division and Chief James Craig of the Detroit Police Department. In two trials during March and May 2015, juries convicted eight leaders and members of the Phantom Outlaw Motorcycle Club, many of whom were also leaders and members of the Vice Lords, for various crimes, including a mass murder plot against a rival organization of the Phantoms and the shooting of a member of another rival organization. The indictment charges members from both Detroit and Chicago with being both state and national leaders of the gang. Counts 2 and 3 charge assault with a dangerous in aid of racketeering, while counts 4 and 5 charge drug conspiracies. (WXYZ) Four men are still being sought in connection with the Vice Lords gang that has ties to Detroit and Chicago. "This is just the beginning," said interim Detroit Police Chief James White. The government is throwing all this dirt up against the wall, saying lets hold him, Sabbota said. Share on Facebook Facebook Among those eight convicted defendants was Antonio Johnson, aka MT or MisterTony, the National President of the Phantoms and the Three-Star General over the Vice Lords in Michigan. Out Kold; Dwayne Parler, a.k.a. Our Civil Rights hotline is available for anyone who may have suffered a violation of their civil rights. Burney Everett . Your lack of criminal history shows that your leadership role has insulated you from engaging in criminal activity, the judge said. Jamerio Clark, aka Merio, 28, of Detroit, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David M. Lawson of the Eastern District of Michigan. Federal prosecutors unsealed a 172-page indictment that lists 40 members of the gang based out of Chicago but with a large presence in Detroit. In two trials in March and May 2015, juries convicted eight leaders and members of the Phantom Outlaw Motorcycle Club, many of whom also were leaders and members of the Vice Lords, for various crimes, including a September October 2013 mass murder plot against a rival organization of the Phantoms, and the September 2013 shooting of a member of another rival organization. "The quality of life in our community will remain closely aligned to our successful ongoing collective efforts to remove violent offenders from Detroit's streets.". Feds make arrests targeting Vice Lords gang in Detroit, Chicago; 40 named in indictment, Featured Image Photo Credit: Getty Images. What are Vice Lord signs? I can't wait.". The. Stay tuned to WWJ Newsradio 950 for more updates on this story. The Almighty Vice Lord Nation gang was founded in Chicago in the 1960s. Two years later, in April 2020, the person was shot, prosecutors said. On Wednesday, January 27, 2016, Antonio Clark, aka "Cheeto," 26, of Detroit, pleaded guilty to two counts of Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering, and one count of Use and Carry of a Firearm During, and in Relation to, a Crime of Violence. The indictment charged these Vice Lords members with aiding and abetting one another in the shooting of the four family members after firing more than two dozen times at the family. Civil rights complaints may also be made online at this linkusamie.civilrights@usdoj.gov. The arrests coincided with prosecutors unsealinga 39-countindictment accusing alleged Michigan gang leaderKevin "Spaghetti" Fordham, 51, of Detroit and 39 other alleged enforcers, associates andhigh-ranking deputies of orchestrating a racketeering conspiracy since 2012. DETROIT (WWJ) - Six members of the Vice Lords street gang pleaded guilty this week to racketeering and firearms charges for their roles in the shootings of four family members. Here is the full list of those charged:(hometowns were not immediately available): 2023 The Detroit News, a Digital First Media Newspaper. High-ranking members may be called "Lord Almighty". No Thanks 2023 Audacy, Inc. All rights reserved. Defendants charged in the case have been involved in 365 felony arrests and 186 felony convictions, saidJames Deir, special agent in charge of the Detroit office of theBureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. "These convictions represent the significant impact law enforcement can have on violent criminal enterprises when local, state, and Federal partners combine forces to address the violent gangs responsible for terrorizing our communities," said David P. Gelios, Special Agent in Charge, FBI - Detroit Division. S. Robin Shoemaker, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Division of ATF said, Countering firearms violence, particularly when it relates to violent street gangs remains one of ATFs primary missions, when it comes to gun violence ATF will continue to work hand in hand with our Detroit One partners to ensure that those individuals who engage in violent criminal activity are removed from our neighborhoods. Marvin Nicholson, aka, "Chosen One," 46, of Detroit, the National Enforcer of the Phantoms and a Vice Lords member, was convicted of engaging in a RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to commit murder. According to admissions made by codefendants who have pleaded guilty in this case, the Vice Lords is a national gang engaged in a variety of crimes, and Vice Lords' leaders are located in both Chicago and Detroit. On September 8, 2015, Johnson was sentenced to 35 years in prison. After a brief confrontation with family members, Clark opened fire with an AK-47 hitting four victims. Email Email. Given just the sheer volume and the numbers, we have a lot of work ahead of us, said Acting U. S. Attorney in Detroit Saima Mohsin during a news conference Thursday. This case is being investigated by the ATF, FBI and the Detroit Police Department. Von"; Gary Porter, a.k.a. The charges are related to four shootings . (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) In two trials in March and May 2015, juries convicted eight leaders and members of the PhantomOutlaw Motorcycle Club, many of whom also were leaders and members of the Vice Lords, for various crimes, including a September October 2013 mass murder plot against a rival organization of the Phantoms, and the September 2013 shooting ofa member of another rival organization. They gathered firearms, including an AK-47 assault rifle, to assist in their plans. Teiz; Javon Wilhite, a.k.a. The indictment unsealed Thursday focuses on Vice Lord leaders and their associates within Michigan and Chicago, according to Mohsin. "The Detroit One partnership is focusing our efforts on combating gang violence," McQuade said. The indictment, which also includes drug and firearms charges, is amongthe largest racketeering conspiracy cases in federal court history in Detroit. DETROIT - A few dozen alleged members and associates of the Almighty Vice Lord Nation gang will now be facing a slew of charges in an investigation that's been underway for years. Fordham, dressed in an orange jailhouse jumpsuit, was animated throughout Tuesday's Zoom hearing, shaking his head, grimacingand rolling his eyes while watchingfrom the Livingston County Jail. (WDIV) 40 charged in sweeping indictment involving Chicago-Detroit gang known as . They gathered firearms, including an AK-47 assault rifle, to assist in their plans. All four victims suffered gunshot wounds, but are recovering. And he allegedly bragged about his power. Members also targeted "snitches" who were perceived to be cooperating with law enforcement a cardinal sin within the rules of the gang, according to the indictment. The indictment charged these Vice Lords members with aiding and abetting one another in the shooting of the four family members after firing more than two dozen times at the family. In 2015, Antonio Clark, Aramis Wilson, Tyrone Price, Jonathan Kinchen, Kojuan Lee, Kirshean Nelson, Dion Robinson and Kenneth Smith, were indicted on charges of RICO conspiracy and other racketeering and firearms charges relating to the May 7, 2015, gang-related shooting of four members of a family. Other local branches include the Insane Vice Lords, Imperial Insane Vice Lords, Conservative Vice Lords, Mafia Insane Vice Lords, and Insane Goon Gang. Also on Thursday, Tyrone Price, aka Price, 27, of Detroit, pleaded guilty to two counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering, and one count of Use and Carry of a Firearm During, and in Relation to, a Crime of Violence. On Thursday, January 25, 2016, Kojuan Lee, aka Juan, 20, of Detroit, and Jonathan Kinchen, aka Deago, 22, of Detroit, each pleaded guilty to one count of RICO conspiracy. Anyone with any information about Smiths whereabouts is encouraged to call 313-234-5656. As admitted in the plea agreements, members of the Traveling Vice Lords set, acting at the direction of Smith and others, searched for two brothers who had left, or attempted to leave, the Vice Lords as part of a plan to harm those individuals. Footz and Vampire; Shelton Carter, a.k.a. The United States Attorney announced 40 members and associates of the Almighty Vice Lord Nation were charged in one of the largest racketeering conspiracy busts in Detroit history. Lo; Brandon Thomas, a.k.a. This case marked the first time that the federal criminal street gang enhancement was charged in the Eastern District of Michigan. DETROIT (WWJ) -- Federal agents arrested more than three dozen members and associates of the Almighty Vice Lord Nation street gang Thursday as law enforcement works to curtail rising gun violence in Detroit. To learn more about VRRAP and how to apply for the program, Veterans can visit www.va.gov. Few federal cases in recent history in Detroit have indicted such a high number of figures involved in organized crime. Thirty-eight of the people charged are currently in custody. Kenneth Smith is currently a fugitive. The guilty pleas are the result of the collaborative efforts of law enforcement and the community to reduce homicide and other violent crime under the Detroit One program. According to the indictment, the Vice Lords is a national gang engaged in a variety of crimes, including murder, robbery, narcotics trafficking and witness intimidation. WWJ is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ATF agents go undercover to work the case and put their own lives on the line. Dion Robinson is expected to plead guilty next week on certain charges. Authorities say the raids in Detroit helped disrupt three alleged conspiracies to commit murder, while seizing 15 guns, cash and drugs. After skipping Detroit on its last tour, Michigan rock band Greta Van Fleet has announced a concert at Little Caesars Arena.. Among those eight convicted defendants was Antonio Johnson, aka "MT" or "Mister Tony," the National President of the Phantoms and the "Three-Star General" over the Vice Lords in Michigan. The defendants admitted that the Vice Lords leaders are located in Chicago and Detroit and that the gang is broken down into various sets, decks or branches. Members who seek to leave the gang oftentimes endure a physical beating by multiple Vice Lord members or are targeted for killing. . The city has seen nonfatal shootings rise 87.8%since 2019 while the number of homicides climbed 47.7%. Also called the Almighty Vice Lords and the Conservative Vice Lord Nation, the gang has morphed from petty crime to drug trafficking to white collar crime over the course of decades. According to the plea agreements, the Vice Lords is a national gang engaged in a variety of crimes, including murder, robbery, narcotics trafficking and witness intimidation. Count 1 in the indictment charges the defendants with RICO (Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organizations Act) conspiracy and outlines the gangs commission of crimes including murder, stabbings, shootings, firearm offenses, drug trafficking and witness intimidation, Mohsin said. The case is being investigated by the ATFs Comprehensive Violence Reduction Program, which includes representatives of the Detroit Police, Michigan State Police, and Michigan Department of Corrections, in coordination with the FBI and DEA. The seven Vice Lord members charged with crimes stemming from this incident are . Smoov; Anthony Najera, a.k.a. 38 of the people charged in the indictment are in police custody, while the other two remain on the loose, according to a report. King; Fabian Toodle, a.k.a Noodle; Earnest Lee, a.k.a. Years of investigation uncovered the elaborate gang operation, which is reportedly among the largest racketeering conspiracy cases in Detroits history, according to a report from The Detroit News. The indictment further alleges that members who seek to leave or withdraw from the gang often endure a physical beating, known as a "beat out," by multiple Vice Lord members, or are targeted for killing, known as a "green light.". Spoonie; Terry Douglas, a.k.a. Fordham was picked up at a home off Hubbell near McNichols. C-Flame; Anthony Reynolds, a.k.a. "The quality of life in our community will remain closely aligned to our successful ongoing collective efforts to remove violent offenders from Detroit's streets." In response, Turner-Bankhead sent the member 11 photos of female body parts. The indictment alleges that the shooting was prompted by two of the family members attempts to leave the gang. The ATF has identified more than 700 Vice Lords members in Michigan alone.. According to court documents, leading up to the May 7, 2015 shooting, members of the Vice Lords, acting at the direction of Kenneth Smith and others, searched for two brothers that had left, or had attempted to leave, the Vice Lords, as part of a plan to harm those individuals. The guilty pleas are the result of the collaborative efforts of law enforcement and the community to reduce homicide and other violent crime under the Detroit One program. (WXYZ) Forty people have been charged in a 172-page federal racketeering indictment that was unsealed in federal court in Detroit today. Federal law enforcement officials pointed to the arrests Thursday as the first of several upcoming crackdowns on violent crime in Detroit. On Jan. 26, 2016, Nelson pleaded guilty to one count of RICO conspiracy. The indictment also details one murder, several attempted murders, as well as drug crimes involving cocaine, fentanyl, heroin and marijuana. Drama; Eddie Reid, a.k.a. MICHIGAN-(ENEWSPF)-August 4, 2016. The indictment further alleges that members who seek to leave or withdraw from the gang oftentimes endure a physical beating, known as a beat out, by multiple Vice Lord members, or are targeted for killing, known as a green light.. A court-appointed defense lawyer listed in the court filing did not respond to a message seeking comment Thursday. DETROIT (WWJ) -- Federal agents arrested more than three dozen members and associates of the Almighty Vice Lord Nation street gang Thursday as law enforcement works to curtail rising gun violence in Detroit. The ATF gave 7 Action News a look inside with videos made by gang members before they were busted. AU; Zanie Taliaferro, a.k.a. The 172-page indictment lists 40 members and associates of the Almighty Vice Lord Nation, a national gang out of Chicago with a prominent branch in Detroit. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Seven members of the Vice Lords were charged in an indictment unsealed today with various offenses based on their roles in a gang-related shooting. Other details include connections within the Michigan Department of Corrections, which allowed the gang to communicate with those incarcerated. Fordham deserved to be released because he has a spotless criminal record anddeep ties to Detroit, the lawyer said. Serve Detroit connects meaningful service opportunities with willing and dedicated volunteers. They are considered armed and dangerous and anyone with information is asked to contact the ATF. Dion Robinson, aka Doggy, 37, of Detroit, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, and use and carry of firearms during and in relation to a crime of violence. Of those facing federal charges, the suspects ahd 365 separate felony arrests between them prior to the new ones this week. Anyone with any information about Smiths whereabouts is encouraged to call 313-234-5656. "I gotta girl makin $ for meU know and tricks," he wrote to another member. The Detroit One partnership is focusing our efforts on combating gang violence, McQuade said. The firearm charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison. Marshals tip line at (313) 234-5656 and the ATFs tip line at (313) 202-3400. Detroit resident Kevin "Spaghetti" Fordham, 51, deserved to be jailed indefinitely, said U.S. Magistrate Judge Kimberly Altman, citing recorded phone calls and social media posts portraying him. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade of the Eastern District of Michigan, Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Departments Criminal Division, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Special Agent in Charge Robin Shoemaker of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Detroit Field Division, Special Agent in Charge David P. Gelios of the FBIs Detroit Division and Chief James Craig of the Detroit Police Department. Detroit, MI - The collaboration of local, state, and federal law enforcement under the Detroit One program has led to the indictment of five members of a northwest Detroit street gang, Young and Skantless or YNS, on various racketeering offenses in a federal superseding indictment unsealed today. RELATED: Vice Lords gang leader gets 13 years for shooting family of 4. Fordham faces charges punishable by up to life in prison, including racketeering and drug conspiracy. emailStay Connected Twellve and Lahabb; Gregory Johnson, a.k.a. 2023 FOX Television Stations, Michigan boxing champ Claressa Shields defends middleweight belt at LCA in June, Sex offender charged in murder of Ann Arbor activist, Colder temps stick around until later in the week, Jackson House where Martin Luther King Jr planned historic marches to be moved to The Henry Ford, Infectious disease doctor explains UP paper mill fungus outbreak. Prosecutors also lay out how gang members used Facebook to post pictures of their activity, as well as communicate about gang business. "The vice lords are a violent, armed national street gang operating in Detroit, Chicago, and elsewhere. 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