Thirty-Two Gangster Disciples Members Federally Indicted on RICO Charges

ATLANTA - Federal agents have arrested multiple members and associates of the national gang The Gangster Disciples on RICO charges stemming from an indictment returned by a federal grand jury on April 27, 2016. Agents also arrested Gangster Disciples members on a separate indictment handed down in Memphis, Tennessee.

"Atlanta has historically been resistant to the incursion of these national gangs, but unfortunately today's 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. "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. 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. We hope this indictment warns the leaders of these gangs that Atlanta is not a good place to do business."

"It is the very of core of law enforcement's 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 Leslie Caldwell. "That is why it is so significant that today's indictments charge top leaders within the Gangster Disciples. There are a lot of people out there willing to join gangs, and eager to get easy money from criminal activity. But there are far fewer people with the wherewithal to lead organizations like the Gangster Disciples. These are the people who keep gangs like the Gangster Disciples alive, year in and year out, generation after generation. 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."

"Today's Gangster Disciple arrests across nine states merely marks the first wave of the FBI's strategic campaign to dismantle this violent criminal organization. The Gangster Disciples are a highly-organized and ruthless gang that recognizes no geographical boundaries, and its members have far too long indiscriminately preyed upon and infected the good people of our communities like a cancer. The FBI's Safe Streets Gang Task Forces recognize no boundaries either, and we are committed to identifying, disrupting and dismantling the most violent gangs that seek to harm our communities. 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," said J. Britt Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office.

According to U.S. Attorney Horn, the charges, and other information presented in court: Beginning in 2009, the defendants named in the RICO conspiracy charge committed murder, attempted murder, robbery, extortion, arson, firearm crimes, drug trafficking, wire fraud, bank fraud, credit card fraud, prostitution and obstruction of justice and other crimes in furtherance of the Gangster Disciples.

The Gangster Disciples are a national gang active in approximately 24 states, including Georgia. The Gangster Disciples brought money into the gang through, among other things, drug trafficking, robbery, carjacking, extortion, wire fraud, credit card fraud, insurance fraud and bank fraud. The gang protected its power and operation through threats, intimidation and violence, including murder, attempted murder, assault, and obstruction of justice. It also promoted the Gangster Disciples enterprise through member-only activities, including conference calls, celebrations of the birthday of the Gangster Disciples founder, the annual Gangster Ball, award ceremonies, and other events.

The gang also provided financial and other support to members charged with or incarcerated for gang-related offenses, and members who were fugitives from law enforcement would be provided "safe houses" in which to hide from police. 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. Further, Gangster Disciples members would teach other members how to commit certain crimes, including fraud crimes, and would provide drugs on discount to other Gangster Disciples members who would then resell the drugs.

Members were organized into different positions, including board members and governor-of-governors who each controlled geographic regions; governors, assistant governors, chief enforcers, and chief of security for each state where Gangster Disciples were active; and coordinators and leaders within each local group. 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 rules.

The indictment alleges that Gangster Disciples members committed 10 murders, 12 attempted murders, two robberies, the extortion of rap artists to force the artists to become affiliated with the Gangster Disciples, and fraud resulting in losses of over $450,000. In addition, the Gangster Disciples trafficked in large amounts of heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, illegal prescription drugs, and marijuana. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of 34 different firearms seized as part of the investigation.

In the Georgia indictment alone, the grand jury indicted Gangster Disciples members from multiple cities in the state to include Atlanta, Decatur, Stone Mountain, Marietta, Valdosta, Macon, and Cochran. They also arrested gang members in Birmingham, Alabama; Denver, Colorado; Wichita, Kansas; Chicago, Illinois; Detroit, Michigan; Madison, Wisconsin; and San Jose, California.

The RICO conspiracy charge names the following defendants and their alleged roles within the Gangster Disciples:

* Shauntay Craig, 37, of Birmingham, Alabama, held the rank of Gangster Disciples "Board Member".

* 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.

* Alonzo Walton, 47, of Atlanta, Georgia, held at different relevant times the positions of governor and governor of governors, the latter position controlling Georgia, Florida, Texas, Indiana, and South Carolina.

* Mangwiro Sadiki-Yisrael, 43, of Marietta, Georgia, held at different relevant times the positions of a first coordinator, assistant governor of Georgia, and governor of Georgia.

* Kevin Clayton, 43, of Decatur, Georgia, was the chief enforcer for the State of Georgia.

* Donald Glass, 26, of Decatur, Georgia, served as a first coordinator of the eastside group of the Gangster Disciples.

* Lewis Mobely, 38, of Atlanta, Georgia, was an enforcer.

* Vertious Wall, 40, of Marietta, Georgia, 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, Alabama, 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, Georgia, was a regional leader in Macon.

* Ronald McMorris, 34, of Atlanta, Georgia, was first coordinator of the Atlanta group.

* Perry Green, 29, of Decatur, Georgia, was a member of the Gangster Disciples and acted as enforcer of a Gangster Disciples group.

* Dereck Taylor, 29, of Macon, Georgia, was a member of the Gangster Disciples and acted as security for a Macon group.

* Alvis O'Neal, 37, of Denver, Colorado, was a senior member of and drug trafficker for the Gangster Disciples.

* Jeremiah Covington, 32, of Valdosta, Georgia, was a first coordinator for the Valdosta region.

* Antonio Ahmad, 33, of Atlanta, Georgia, was the chief of security for the state of Georgia.

* Eric Manney, 39, of Atlanta, Georgia, was a member of the Gangster Disciples and stored multiple guns at his house.

* Quiana Franklin, 33, of Birmingham, Alabama, served as treasurer for the state of Alabama.

* Frederick Johnson, 37, of Marietta, Georgia, was a chief enforcer for a Gangster Disciples group.

* Charles Wingate, 25, of Conyers, Georgia, was chief of security for a Covington, Georgia, group.

* Thomas Pasby, 42, of Cochran, Georgia, was a member of the Gangster Disciples.

* Denise Carter, 41, of Detroit, Michigan, was a member of the Gangster Disciples.

* Carlton King, JR., 25, of Cochran, Georgia, was a member of the Gangster Disciples.

* Kelvin Sneed, 26, of Cochran, Georgia, was a member of the Gangster Disciples.

* Arrie Freeney, 32, of Detroit, Michigan, 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, Georgia, was a member of the Gangster Disciples.

* Yohori Epps, 36, of Marietta, Georgia, was a member of the Gangster Disciples.

* Michael Drummound, 49, of Marietta, Georgia, was a member of the Gangster Disciples.

In addition to the RICO conspiracy:

* Defendant Lewis Mobely was charged with committing attempted murder in aid of racketeering and using a firearm during that shooting; possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute it; and possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug charge.

* Defendant Donald Glass was charged with committing a murder in aid of racketeering and using a firearm during that murder.

Defendants Alonzo Walton and Antonio Ahmad were also charged with carjacking. A third defendant, Laderris Dickerson, 45, of Chicago, Illinois, has been charged with the carjacking, but is not charged in the RICO conspiracy.

Defendant James Travis Riley, 35, of Wichita, Kansas has been charged with possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it, but is not charged in the RICO conspiracy.

Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government's burden to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being investigated by the FBI Atlanta's Safe Streets Gang Task Force (composed of members of the FBI, Alpharetta Police Department, Atlanta Police Department, Clayton County Police Department, DeKalb Police Department, Forest Park Police Department, Georgia Dept. of Community Supervision, Georgia Dept. of Corrections, Gwinnett County Police Department, and Marietta Police Department), Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the United States Marshal's Service, and the United States Postal Inspection Services.

Assistant United States Attorneys Kim S. Dammers, Stephanie Gabay-Smith, and Ryan K. Buchanan, and DOJ Organized Crime & Gang Section Trial Attorney Hans B. Miller are prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney's Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga