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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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March 21, 2014 at 1:50 pm
Bounty Hunter Bloods gang members indicted for murders, other crimes
George Hunter
The Detroit News
U.S. attorney announces gang members indictments
U.S. attorney announces gang members indictments: Barbara McQuade says nine leaders of the Bounty Hunter Bloods street gang have been indicted on various crimes including conspiracy, murder and racketeering.
Detroit — On the first anniversary of a collaboration of law enforcement agencies and the community, U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade announced the indictment of nine leaders of a violent street gang allegedly responsible for murders, drive-by shootings, and armed robberies — which they sometimes bragged about on social media websites.
Those indicted were leaders of the Bounty Hunter Bloods gang, which was connected to the infamous Bloods gang in Los Angeles.
Among those indicted: Ramiah Jefferson, 26, known as “Nightmare”; Drakker Cunningham, 25, known as “Unkle Murda”; Mario Garnes, 28, known as “Blood Hound”; and Alexander George, 20, known as “Bullet.”
Federal authorities allege several crimes, including a May 2008 attack of a rival gang at Inkster High School; firebombing a house in August 2008; the slaying of a man during a February 2009 robbery; fatal stabbings in May 2009 and June 2010; and the murder of a homeowner during a November 2011 break-in.
Between late 2005 and early 2006, an unindicted co-conspirator, identified as “Person A” obtained authority from the gang’s leaders in New York and Philadelphia to form a Detroit Bounty Hunters chapter, according to the indictment.
Membership in the gang required each Bounty Hunter to sell drugs, according to the indictment.
The Detroit gang operated mostly on the city’s northwest side, between Joy Road and Seven Mile to the north and south; and Telegraph and Greenfield to the east and west.
“Bounty Hunter members use social networking websites to post photographs, videos and statements that identify and highlight their affiliation with the enterprise, as well as their gang-related accomplishments,” the indictment said. Members also wrote rap songs bragging about their gang activity
McQuade credited the Detroit One initiative with helping them make their case against the gang. Detroit One is comprised of local, state and federal agencies, and community groups, was announced last year as an effort to reduce violent crime in Detroit. McQuade said the collaboration is a big reason for the 15 percent reduction in homicides from 2012 to 2013, and a 38 percent drop in homicides so far in 2014.
“Working with our colleagues, we’re combining our scarce resources to selectively go after the most violent criminals,” McQuade said.
McQuade said members of the initiative meet each week to determine which criminals to target. When possible, prosecutors use federal laws to ensure violent criminals serve the most prison time possible.
The community is an important component of the partnership, said Luther Keith, director of ARISE Detroit, a collaboration of community groups.
“Outrage does not stop criminals,” Keith said. “People, plans and action stop criminals. I’m tired of mothers crying. I’m tired of my family being concerned about being carjacked. It’s not rocket science — we have to step up and do something.”
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ghunter@detroitnews.com
(313) 222-2134
From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140321/METRO01/303210082#ixzz2wsgFnLRv |
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Mon Mar 24, 2014 7:08 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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114 people charged in multiagency effort to cut violent street, motorcycle gangs in Detroit
7:59 PM, March 21, 2014 |
U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade announces results of Detroit One's work targeting gang violence. The coalition is made up of federal and state agencies as well as the Detroit police, the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office and the Wayne County Sheriff's Office.
By Robert Allen
Detroit Free Press staff writer
Read the gang indictment
Local, state and federal agencies cooperated to charge 114 people of crimes connected with violent street and motorcycle gangs in Detroit in the past year, U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade announced Friday.
Largely “worst-of-the-worst offenders,” many of the people targeted through the investigations had violent histories, and citizens’ tips initiated many of the cases, McQuade said at a news conference at her office.
Among people charged were members of the Bounty Hunter Bloods, the Almighty Vice Lord Nation and the Phantom Outlaw Motorcycle Club.
Officials announced the Detroit One coalition a year ago, and McQuade cited a 13% reduction in Detroit homicides, from 386 in 2012 to 336 in 2013. She said a similar previous effort in Washington, D.C., also coincided with a decline in homicides.
Charges were filed last month in a case against the motorcycle club; after the leader was killed, the group was planning a revenge shooting when agents made arrests, preventing more violence, McQuade said.
“When we started a year ago, we were going after single offenders,” she said. “But the long-term goal of agencies like the FBI and (the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) was to use those individual offenders to build these more serious-impact cases, and we’re seeing the fruits of their labor today.”
In a recent Detroit One case, an indictment unsealed Thursday alleges how the Bounty Hunter Bloods street gang was connected to a number of murders, drive-by shootings, carjackings, armed robberies, arson and drug trafficking, according to a news release.
Social media sites such as Instagram and Facebook were used to bring evidence to the case, which involved nine men in their 20s. Their indictment describes in detail the history of the gang and connections with others on the east and west coasts.
People indicted in that case included Ramiah Jefferson, 26; Drakkar B. Cunningham, 25; Evan A. Johnson, 24; Mario P. Garnes, 28; Alexander D. George, 20; Everette R. George, 21; Marcus A. Harvey, 23; Gerald D. Turner, 25, and David L. Gay, 22.
The gang operates mainly between Joy Road to the south and 7 Mile Road to the north, between Telegraph and Greenfield, according to the news release.
Because of limited local resources, federal agencies used criminal conspiracy and racketeering among charges to commit federal resources to prosecutions, McQuade said. Seven federal agencies and two state agencies are involved with the coalition as well as the Detroit Police Department, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.
Community organizations such as Arise Detroit also work with the agencies, helping to “overcome the ‘no-snitch’ mentality,” according to the news release. Luther Keith, Arise Detroit’s executive director, said Friday that there’s more work ahead getting people to go beyond complaining about street violence and work toward change.
“Outrage does not stop criminals,” he said. “People, plans and actions stop criminals.”
He said there was one case where a woman tried to set up a neighborhood club to watch for local crime but found that people wouldn’t join, for fear of retribution from criminals.
McQuade said Crime Stoppers has been especially helpful. The tips line at 800-SPEAKUP (800-773-2587) offers anonymity and cash rewards for tips leading to solved crimes.
The coalition’s first year has brought charges against 114 people; with 63 in state court and 57 in federal court, including six people who were charged in both.
To date, there have been 38 state-level convictions and 12 federal-level convictions.
Contact Robert Allen: rallen@freepress.com |
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Mon Mar 24, 2014 7:12 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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114 people charged in multiagency effort to cut ... - Detroit Free Press
2 days ago ... Local, state and federal agencies cooperated to charge 114 people of crimes connected with violent street and motorcycle gangs in Detroit the ...
www.freep.com/article/20140321/news01/303210097/gang-indictment-detroit
On the left side of this article is the 33 page indictment. It details the move of the Bounty Hunter Bloods from the watts area of LA California to Detroit. |
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Mon Mar 24, 2014 7:17 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Detroit Police to bring back 'Gang Squad' with a new name
Posted: Aug 07, 2013 11:21 PM EDT
Updated: Aug 08, 2013 7:56 AM EDT
By Andrea Isom, Fox 2 News - email
DETROIT (WJBK) -
Detroit Police Chief James Craig plans to reintroduce a version of the Gang Squad, which was disbanded earlier this year, during a press conference Thursday at 10:30 a.m.
However, some people wanted to talk about it beforehand.
When it comes to crusaders working to stop the violence before it starts, plenty of people used to point to the DPD Gang Squad, which was busted up back in March. The reason for the breakup was to get more boots on the streets.
"I think that was a huge mistake that was made," said Andy Arena, director of the Detroit Crime Commission.
Arena said it appears that Gang Squad is getting back together again. It seems its mission may be much of the same. Its name may change, but its role will still be proactive policing.
"Proactively go after gangs throughout the city, not just focus in one area and get so fixated that you're really missing the big picture. I think this gives them the ability to address the big picture. It's a good move on their part," Arena said.
Let's talk data. Just how big and bad is the gang problem in the city?
"We estimate there's maybe 2,500 true gang members in the City of Detroit. There's probably ten times that amount that are actually involved in the gang activity," Arena said. "You've got to proactively go after these guys and cut them off at the knees."
"These units are a key to driving crime down, especially violent crime in the City of Detroit."
"Violent crime is not reduced by creating another gang culture to combat a gang, and that's what they were before," said Ron Scott, the spokesperson for the Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality.
His thoughts on revisiting a new version of the Gang Squad?
"Maybe the right desire, but the wrong way of doing it," he said.
Police sources said it will be called the Mobile Tactical Services Section. Scott just hopes the name change means the unit is nothing like it used to be.
"30 percent of the complaints, 30 percent of the confrontations -- use of force is one of the reasons why the feds are here -- came out of the Gang Squad," Scott said. "It's not about kicking somebody's butt. It's about basically building a trust level where in effect the community will allow the police to actually identify people who are perpetrators of crime."
Scott also wanted people to know that he is not anti-police, and he thinks units like this could do some good, but he wants it to be all about the people. He thinks the people should be able to weigh in on what they believe this unit should look like.
Read more: http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/story/23078672/detroit-police-may-bring-back-gang-squad-with-a-new-name#ixzz2wsoYNTH9 |
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Mon Mar 24, 2014 7:41 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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| Violence from gangs in Detroit was so severe the media said that when the gangs fought, the former gang unit called for help. |
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Mon Mar 24, 2014 7:43 am |
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