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. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Yates volunteered at some of them. Khalalah Jackson, whose husband was freed from prison under the First Step Act in November, was among those at the Robbins food giveaway. 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, Missouri, and multiple unsuccessful murder plots. We also wanted to know or did we? He says he got help for his food giveaway from bigger organizations such as Black Men United. Moore questioned why prosecutors who previously have said they suspected Hoover was still involved in the gang hadnt brought up the latest accusation during arguments over Hoovers bid for a reduced sentence. Chief Enforcer: The gang member in each state who is responsible for enforcing codes, rules and regulations of the gang. Barry Boyce, 44, of Charleston, Missouri, an alleged member of the gang, is charged with RICO conspiracy. 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, said Nicholas L. McQuaid, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Departments Criminal Division. 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. 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. It is a highly structured. Kirby Smart: No culture problem, no policy change as a result of fatal crash, Devin Willocks dad questions communication following fatal crash, House panel passes bill to allow inspection of Georgia ballots, Thirty-nine years at the AJC, and I owe it all to Guy McIntyre, At CPAC, devoted conservative base cheers on Marjorie Taylor Greene, South metro Atlanta leaders to talk development on Wednesday, Atlanta mayor looks to cultivate citys future while outsiders threaten to pull it apart, Clayton County Commission to meet Thursday in special-called meeting, Atlantas Carter Center preps for future without founder, Photography club captures hope during pandemic, March food and drink events to check out in metro Atlanta. (WMC) - The Gangster Disciples is a dangerous gang founded in the 1970's in Chicago, Illinois. May 4, 2016 / 3:51 PM / CBS/AP. 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. 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. Shauntay Craig, 42, was sentenced to 40 years in prison after he pleaded guilty in August 2019 to racketeering conspiracy involving murder and drug trafficking. But there are far fewer people with the wherewithal to lead organizations like the Gangster Disciples. "The violence that we're seeing now concerns me," Sanders said. A group of seven men allegedly connected to the gang were indicted in January, among them was Warren Griffin originally from Lancaster, Kentucky. Chairman: the national leader, who is currently in prison but still communicates with gang leadership, the indictment claims. 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 letters were in every box. 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. James Yates (right) talks with Robbins Park District president Andrea Roberson about logistics for his food drive. Boxes containing a mattress and toys are piled in the arms of a volunteer unloading a truck during an Oct. 15 giveaway in Robbins. 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 . He asks, Can we do this in Robbins? Harrell says. We aint looking back. The gang employs a structured hierarchy, with leadership positions such as national "Board Members" and state "Governors." Contact reporter Heather Fountaine [email protected] follow her onTwitter (@WHAS11Heather)andFacebook. 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. 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. We have strong partnerships with Federal agencies and are dedicated to thwarting gang violence. The lawlessness these gangs bring to our cities is terribly destructive and oftentimes difficult to prosecute. Barry Boyce, 44, of Charleston, Missouri, an alleged member of the gang, is charged with RICO conspiracy. 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. It had a compilation of video captured by police cameras that illustrated the influence gangs had on the streets of Chicago. 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. According to the indictment, the Gangster Disciples is a violent street and prison gang founded in the 1960s that has engaged in large-scale drug trafficking and violence throughout the United States. Opinions differ on how to define Gangster Disciples. DISCLAIMER: Please be aware that the information obtained using InfoTracer searches may not always be accurate and up to date as we do not create, verify, or guarantee the accuracy or the amount of information provided through our service. 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. The decision to merge the two gangs came from a fear that gang warfare would decimate the black youth of the region. Volunteers unload hundreds of boxes containing food during an Oct. 15 giveaway in Robbins. Violators may be subject to civil and criminal litigation and penalties. The indictment filed by federal prosecutors accuses Griffin, also known as 'GG' and 'Big Head' of murdering a rival Gangster Disciples board member in Chicago back in 2018. Official websites use .gov Harrell walked up to one of the food boxes that were being given away in Robbins. Five Gangster Disciple members were convicted after an April . The Black Disciple Gangster Nation re-created themselves as a business organization opening community centers and offering jobs to local people. On May 18, 2018, Dobbins and Griffin shot and killed Earnest Don Smokey Wilson, 65, a rival Gangster Disciples board member, in the 7100 block of South Euclid Avenue in Chicago, according to the East St. Louis indictment. "He's pulling a gun from his waistband," Sanders said. Murder in aid of racketeering is a death-eligible offense. "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 indictment describes the Gangster Disciples as a violent gang with a long history of lawlessness in the United States. 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. 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. A 16-count indictment was returned by a grand jury on April 22, and unsealed today in the U.S. District Court of the Western District of Tennessee. The leader of each count is called a "First Coordinator" or "First C."A "Regent" is a leader responsible for several counts within a state. The violence perpetrated by the Gangster Disciples in this district and nationwide has long been a particular focus of our top law enforcement agencies. The case was unsealed today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. Prosecutors claim Griffin had discussions with Dobbins intending to kill members of their own gang that were resisting the new leadership for a chapter in East St. Louis. This case results from investigations by ATF, FBI, BOP, IRS CI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Missouri Department of Corrections, Illinois State Police, the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis, Bridgeton Police Department, Cape Girardeau Police Department, Mississippi County Sheriffs Office, and Chicago Police Department. 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. In 1973, Hoover was sentenced to. 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.. 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. 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. 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. The Gangster Disciples is highly structured, disciplined and deadly, according to U.S. Attorney John Horn in Atlanta. 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. Certain defendants were also charged with murder, attempted murder, and various firearms crimes. Some of these teams have names, such as "Hate Committee" or "Blacc Team. Robinson was revered for breaking the color barrier, but dont forget about those who followed. They are also represented by a black flag (bandana). Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. The Black Gangster Disciples was a gang from chicago that ended up splitting into two separate gangs in the 90s (black disciples (BGDs) and gangster disciples (GDs)).Some gangs still hold the black gangster disciple name out of chicago and never split up. The Gangster Disciples are known to be active in 35 states. 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. GD hasa very structured hierarchical organization. They'll usually deal cocaine and heroin, according to the Department of Justice. 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. Robinson was revered for breaking the color barrier, but dont forget about those who followed. The gang protected its power and operation through threats, intimidation and violence, including murder, attempted murder, assault and obstruction of justice. These are the people who keep gangs like the Gangster Disciples alive, year in and year out, generation after generation. Members of the gang identify themselves with the six-point Star of David, and pitchforks coming out the top. The health and well-being of our citizens is one of my highest priorities, the presidents letter said. The Black Gangster Disciples became known as, "a young street organization striving for a place of high recognition and respect in the City of Chicago" (Emery, n.d., p. 11). InfoTracer is not a "consumer reporting agency" under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ("FCRA"), and does not provide "consumer reports" under the FCRA. Further, Gangster Disciples members would teach other members how to commit certain crimes, including frauds and would provide drugs on discount to other Gangster Disciples members for resale. On May 18, 2018, Griffin and Dobbins are accused of killing Ernest Wilson, a rivalmember in Chicago. 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. Though Hoover was not accused of wrongdoing, the indictment alleged that in September 2014, Gangster Disciples members Anthony Dobbins and Warren Griffin discussed how Hoover had recently appointed them as "board members," a powerful position directly beneath Hoover that gave them authority over the gang's national operation. Among the crimes alleged in the indictment are two gang-related murders. 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. You always have naysayers, he says. He pointed out that they came from Trumps U.S. Department of Agriculture. If you can restore, reshape, revitalize Black men, they can strengthen Black families, and Black families can strengthen Black blocks, he 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. 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. Reporting from Washington . 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. Gang members had suspected the second man might do the same, prosecutors said. Image from Chicago gang video provided by Jeffersontown Police Chief Rick Sanders, Indiana State Trooper struck, killed by driver accused of attempting to evade police, Beshear confirms 4 dead after severe weather makes its way through Kentuckiana, 'We can handle it': Fans brave the weather for Big Nita's Cheesecake. The two rival gangsters united together to form the Black Gangster Disciple Nation ( BGDN ). January 25, 2021. 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. Larry Hoover grew up in Chicago and became the leader of the Supreme Gangsters, which merged with a rival gang to become the Black Gangster Disciple Nation. Four dozen members of the violent Gangster Disciples gang, including a leader in California and a police officer in Georgia who acted as a . Hoover got arrested and went to prison and continued to run the gang from behind bars. The Robbins Park District let Yates stage his food giveaway in a parking lot down the street from the suburbs police station. 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. 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. released a report in 2011 that revealed that at least 53 gangs are represented in the military, particularly the branches of the Army. One shows an incident in 2003 of how gangs use children to distribute drug. 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. 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. See GD. The wars ceased when Larry and David formed together as a . 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.. The Black Disciple Gangster Nation was responsible for the death of Army sergeant Juwan Williams during a brutal initiation beating that included kicks to the head. An official website of the United States government. 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. 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. The long list of violent crimes alleged in this indictmentincluding two murders and multiple violent assaultsmake plain the threat to our communities posed by criminal organizations like the Gangster Disciples, said Nicholas L. McQuaid, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Departments Criminal Division. 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. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Conor Mulroe and Jeremy Franker of the Criminal Divisions Organized Crime and Gang Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ali M. Summers of the Southern District of Illinois, with substantial investigative support from the U.S. Attorneys Offices for the Eastern District of Missouri and the Northern District of Illinois. I had this strong desire to come back here and try to correct or fix some of the stuff that we played a part in messing up, Yates says as he directed a crew unloading boxes of food from trucks earlier this month as part of the Revitalization of Robbins Initiative he has started. Yates says he thinks more Americans than ever support moves to rehabilitate ex-offenders, which led to the passage of the First Step Act. Warren Griffin, 51, of Lancaster, Kentucky, an alleged "Board Member," is charged with RICO conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, and related firearms crimes; Anthony Dobbins, 53, of Troy, Illinois, an alleged "Board Member," is charged with RICO conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, and related firearms crimes; Seven alleged members of the violent Gangster Disciples gang, including top national and state leaders, are in custody after multiple arrests this morning for their alleged participation in a years-long interstate racketeering conspiracy involving multiple murders, drug trafficking, and other crimes. Craig . Because, I gotta admit its good.. On May 18, 2018, Griffin and Dobbins are accused of killing Ernest Wilson, a rival Board Member, in Chicago, Illinois. But recent indictments against Gangster Disciples members downstate and in Atlanta suggest that the corporate structure of the gang has remained in place. "They were one of the biggest gangs in Chicago dealing drugs.". April 4, law enforcement in Memphis and Atlanta announced a major bust which they said resulted in the arrest ofdozens of leaders in GD. The federal racketeering indictment unsealed Wednesday depicts an almost corporate organization spread out over several states. John Harrell, pastor of Proviso Missionary Baptist Church in Maywood. About 900 gang factions operate in Chicago today, police say. With the charges unsealed today, we are taking an important, powerful step in the fight to disrupt and dismantle gangs operating in this region. The other shows a gang-related shooting captured by police cameras in the middle of the day. By Frank Main and Jon Seidel Jan 26, 2021, 4:55pm PST NASHVILLE, Tenn., - June 30, 2017 - A federal grand jury in Nashville, Tenn., returned a 40-count indictment yesterday, charging 11 members of the Gangster Disciples with conspiring to participate in a racketeering enterprise that included multiple murders, including the murder of a witness; a drug distribution conspiracy; and multiple other crimes of violence in aid of After a somewhat-quiet offseason, the Fire are widely picked to finish near the bottom of the Eastern Conference and miss the playoffs again. 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. Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover appointed 2 gang leaders from prison, feds say They're now charged with killing a rival 'board member' of the notorious street gang in 2018 on the South Side. They're controlled by a chairman of the board, and then they have a board of directors, one in prison, one outside below those people are the governors and they control the territories," Sanders said. The gang is well known for the distribution of narcotics and white collar crimes. The "Chief of Security" for each state protects the members of gangs within the state. 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. Michael Drummound, 49, of Marietta, was a member of the Gangster Disciples. Today, hes distributing a different kind of commodity in those same suburbs: food. The charges and allegations in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. 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. "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. If a member violates a gang rule, the ChiefEnforcer must authorize a "Kill on Sight" order or a "green light," which authorizes physical punishment against that member. The BOP'sintelligence componentappreciates the opportunity to assist our federal partners in detecting and disrupting criminal activity related to inmates in the BOP's custody., Investigating organized crime and related financial schemes are a top priority for CI, said Tamera Cantu, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation (CI), Chicago Field Office. On May 18, 2018, Griffin and Dobbins allegedly killed Ernest Wilson, a rival Board Member, in Chicago, Illinois. 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, Special Agent in Charge of the FBIs Springfield Field Office. The drastically different team is built around its All-Star cornerstone, and new players will match her intensity, Ex-Gangster Disciples governor now distributing food boxes, not crack cocaine, Jackson, 48, recently wrote a letter to U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber, Former Black Disciples king Marvel Thompsons federal prison sentence cut by a third, Chicago Black Disciples gang kingpin Marvel Thompson: Im sorry for my life of crime, Illinois has paroled double ax-murderer, other heinous killers, offering Gangster Disciples boss hope, Gangster Disciples boss Larry Hoover seeks break on prison time under law Kanye West championed, Chicago gang kingpin Larry Hoovers bad behavior could keep him from cutting life sentence, Over 60% in Chicago seeking early prison release under Trumps First Step Act go free, Chicago crooks case highlights Supreme Court nominees black-and-white approach, Putins pollock: U.S. seafood imports fuel Russian war machine, Chicago police supervisors obstructed probe of sergeants suicide, resigned before they could be fired, inspector general says, Tom Dart, judge at odds over required 2-day furlough from home confinement for suspects on bail, ATF cited stores that most often sold guns used in Chicago crimes, then let them off easy, Outlaws Motorcycle Club enforcer denied compassionate release, showed no compassion in killing McHenry County couple, Taxing times for popular South Side restaurant eased by county agency, Dear Abby: When my husbands brother marries, I should be in the wedding, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and wife to invest $250 million in new Chicago research lab, Jose Abreu on life with the Astros and leaving the White Sox, who werent a family in 2022, Chicago police officer was shot and killed in front of kids playing at school: They ran as quickly as possible just to get to safety, Dear Abby: With boyfriends fussy father living here, I feel trapped, The Astros Dusty Baker 73 years young is still at it, and hes one Hall of a manager. "he was responsible for violence drug trafficking and murders, including orchestrating the murder of a . according to a release from the United States Department of Justice. According to the Chicago police, the Gangster Disciples and other big Chicago gangs have, over the past two decades, fragmented into factions that arent controlled at the top the way they used to be. 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). Eight fellow soldiers were tried in connection with the death. He was accompanied to the Oval Office by Hoovers attorney, who explained that Hoover is being held in the Colorado Supermax prison alongside killers for economic crimes and that he was unfairly targeted because he was gaining political power from the Chicago community. None of those guys is reverting to the streets and getting involved in crime.. 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.