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.
A 12-count indictment was returned by a grand jury on April 27, and unsealed today in the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Georgia. Thirty individuals were taken into custody today and two remain at large. 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. Fifteen individuals were taken into custody today and one remains at large.
“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,” said Special Agent in Charge Johnson. “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.”
According to court documents, the Gangster Disciples is a national gang active in more than 24 states with a highly organized structure including board members and governor-of-governors who each controlled geographic regions; governors, assistant governors, chief enforcers and chiefs of security for each state or regions within the state where the 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 the gang’s rules.
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 were 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 frauds and would provide drugs on discount to other Gangster Disciples members for resale.
The Atlanta RICO conspiracy indictment names the following defendants and their alleged roles within the Gangster Disciples:
Shauntay Craig, 37, of Birmingham, held the rank of Gangster Disciples board member;
Alonzo Walton, 47, of Atlanta, held at different relevant times the positions of governor of Georgia and governor of governors, the latter position controlling Georgia, Florida, Texas, Indiana and South Carolina;
Kevin Clayton, 43, of Decatur, Georgia, was the chief enforcer for the state of Georgia;
Donald Glass, 26, of Decatur, served as a first coordinator of the eastside group of the Gangster Disciples;
Lewis Mobely, 38, of Atlanta, was an enforcer;
Vertious Wall, 40, of Marietta, 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, 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, was a regional leader in Macon;
Ronald McMorris, 34, of Atlanta, was first coordinator of the Atlanta group;
Perry Green, 29, of Decatur, was a member of the Gangster Disciples and acted as enforcer of a Gangster Disciples group;
Dereck Taylor, 29, of Macon, was a member of the Gangster Disciples and acted as security for a Macon group;
Alvis O’Neal, 37,of Denver, was a senior member of and money launderer for the Gangster Disciples;
Jeremiah Covington, 32, of Valdosta, Georgia, was a first coordinator for the Valdosta region;
Antonio Ahmad, 33, of Atlanta, was the chief of security for the state of Georgia;
Eric Manney, 39, of Atlanta, was a member of the Gangster Disciples and stored multiple guns at his house;
Quiana Franklin, 33, of Birmingham, served as treasurer for the state of Alabama;
Frederick Johnson, 37, of Marietta, was a chief enforcer for a Gangster Disciples group;
Charles Wingate,25, of Conyers, Georgia, was chief of security for a Covington, Georgia group;
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;
Thomas Pasby, 42, of Cochran, Georgia, was a member of the Gangster Disciples;
Denise Carter, 41, of Detroit, was a member of the Gangster Disciples;
Carlton King Jr., 25, of Cochran, was a member of the Gangster Disciples;
Kelvin Sneed, 26, of Cochran, was a member of the Gangster Disciples;
Arrie Freeney, 32, of Detroit, 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, was a member of the Gangster Disciples;
Yohori Epps, 36,of Marietta, was a member of the Gangster Disciples; and
Michael Drummound, 49, of Marietta, was a member of the Gangster Disciples.
In addition to the RICO conspiracy, Glass and Mobely are each charged with committing or attempting to commit murder in aid of racketeering and using firearms during those crimes. Mobely, Glass, Craig, O’Neal, Covington and Travis Riley, 35, of Wichita, Kansas are also charged with various drug distribution crimes and Mobely and Glass are further charged with related firearms crimes. Walton, Ahmad and Laderris Dickerson, 45, of Chicago, are also charged with carjacking and Walton and Dickerson are charged with a related firearms offense.
The Memphis RICO conspiracy indictment names the following defendants and their alleged roles within the Gangster Disciples:
Byron Montrail Purdy, aka “Lil B” or “Ghetto,” 37, of Jackson, Tennessee, served as Gangster Disciples leader in Tennessee;
Derrick Kennedy Crumpton, aka “38,” 32, of Memphis, served as Gangster Disciples leader in Tennessee;
Demarcus Deon Crawford, aka “Trip,” 32, of Jackson, served as leader of security in Tennessee;
Henry Curtis Cooper, aka “Big Hen,” 36, of Memphis, served as leader of security in Tennessee;
Rico Terrell Harris, aka “Big Brim,” 43, of Memphis, served as leader of security in Tennessee;
Shamar Anthony James, aka “Lionheart,” 37, of Memphis, held the rank of governor of a region in Memphis;
Demario Demont Sprouse, aka “Taco,” 35, of Memphis, held the rank of chief of security of a region in Memphis;
Robert Elliott Jones, aka “Lil Rob” or “Mac Rob,” 36, of Memphis, held the rank of governor of a region in Memphis;
Denton Suggs, aka “Denny Mo” or “Diddy Mo,”40, of Memphis, held the rank of chief of security in a section of Memphis;
Santiago Megale Shaw, aka “Mac-T,” 23, of Jackson, was a member of the security team or blackout squad in Jackson;
Tarius Montez Taylor, aka “T,” 26, of Jackson, was a member of the security team or blackout squad in Jackson;
Tommy Earl Champion Jr., aka “Duct Tape,” 27, of Jackson, held the rank of chief of security of Jackson;
Cory Dewayne Bowers, aka “Bear Wayne,” 32, of Jackson, was associated with the Gangster Disciples and acted as a member of the security team in Jackson;
Gerald Eugene Hampton, aka “G30,” 30, of Jackson, held the rank of assistant chief of security and was a member of the security team’s blackout squad in Jackson;
Daniel Lee Cole, aka “D-Money,” 37, of Jackson, acted as assistant governor and assistant education coordinator for the Gangster Disciples in Jackson; and
Tommy Lee Wilkins (Holloway), aka “Tommy Gunz,” 28, of Memphis, was a member of the security team in Memphis.
