Bloods Gang Members Found Guilty of Racketeering Conspiracy Involving Murders

North Carolina Bloods Gang Members Found Guilty of Racketeering Conspiracy Involving Murders

A federal jury convicted four North Carolina members of the United Blood Nation (UBN or Bloods) street gang of charges including Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy involving multiple murders.  In May of 2017, 83 UBN gang members were indicted in the Western District of North Carolina for crimes including RICO conspiracy.  This trial resulted in the convictions of the last four defendants in the active case.

Dricko Dashon Huskey, aka Drizzy, 27, of Shelby, North Carolina, Renaire Roshique Lewis Jr., aka Banz, 25, of Shelby, North Carolina, Alandus Montrell Smith, aka Kadafia, 29, of Shelby, North Carolina and Jonathan Wray, aka Jon Jon/Yungin, 28, of Lawndale, North Carolina, were convicted by a federal jury sitting in Charlotte following a nearly three-week trial.  The evidence at trial showed that Huskey, Lewis and Wray each shot and killed a different victim.  The jury also convicted Lewis of murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, attempted Hobbs Act robbery and using a firearm during and in relation to crimes of violence.  Smith was also convicted of possessing methamphetamine and marijuana with intent to sell, possessing a firearm in furtherance of those drug trafficking crimes and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, in addition to racketeering conspiracy.

“These Bloods members terrorized communities by committing murders and robberies on behalf of the gang. Today’s convictions provide a measure of justice to residents of North Carolina,” said Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.  “With 82 defendants now found guilty, the Department of Justice’s prosecution of the Bloods continues to disrupt and weaken this violent gang, and serves as a testament to the effectiveness of federal, state and local law enforcement cooperation.”

“These gang members made a living committing robberies and dealing drugs, and tried to gain respect, reputation and rank within the Bloods by shooting and murdering victims,” said U.S. Attorney R. Andrew Murray of the Western District of North Carolina.  “With today’s guilty verdict, we have successfully put 82 violent offenders behind bars, as we continue our mission to dismantle criminal enterprises operating in Western North Carolina and protect our communities from violent street gangs.”

According to evidence presented at trial, Lewis and four other UBN members attempted to rob an 18-year-old victim of marijuana and money.  Lewis and another UBN member then shot and killed the victim and attempted to murder the victim’s friend, who survived a gunshot wound to his arm.  Also, according to evidence presented at trial, Wray shot and killed a member of the Crips, a rival gang, at a party with other Bloods in Shelby, North Carolina.  Evidence at trial also proved that Huskey murdered an unarmed man during an argument by shooting the victim multiple times and continuing to shoot while he was on the ground.  The jury’s verdict indicated that Lewis, Wray and Smith participated in the UBN knowing and agreeing that Bloods commit acts of murder.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the UBN is a violent criminal street gang operating throughout the east coast of the United States since it was founded as a prison gang in 1993.  UBN members are often identified by their use of the color red, and can also often be identified by common tattoos or burn marks.  Examples include: a three-circle pattern, usually burned onto the upper arm, known as a “dog paw”; the words “damu,” or “eastside”; the number five; the five-pointed star and the five-pointed crown.  UBN members have distinct hand signs and written codes, which are used to identify other members and rival gang members, as well as to try to thwart law enforcement efforts against them.

Members of the UBN are expected to conduct themselves and their illegal activity according to rules and regulations set by their leaders.  Prominent among these is a requirement to pay monthly dues to the organization, often in the amounts of $31 or $93.  UBN gang dues are derived from illegal activity performed by subordinate UBN members including narcotics trafficking, robberies, and wire fraud, among other forms of illegal racketeering activity.

In all, 82 defendants have been adjudicated guilty in this case.  Three top leaders of the UBN were convicted of racketeering conspiracy by a jury in May 2018, and one defendant was convicted of racketeering conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy at trial in July 2019.  Seventy-eight defendants have pleaded guilty in this investigation, and 69 defendants have been sentenced.

North Carolina Gang Leaders Convicted of RICO Charges

Two North Carolina men were found guilty today for conspiracy to participate in a pattern of racketeering (RICO), two counts of murder in aid of racketeering, two counts of murder with a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to commit witness tampering.

Evidence presented at trial and other public documents established that Demetrice R. Devine, aka “Respect,” 37, of Garner, North Carolina, was the leader of the Black Mob Gangsters (BMG) and founder of the Donald Gee Family organization (DGF).  The BMG/DGF are sets of the “Bloods” gang whose members committed various crimes in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina, and especially in the area of Haywood Street.  Brandon Jowan Mangum, aka “B-Easy,” 31, of Knightdale, North Carolina, was another high-ranking member of the BMG/DGF.  The BMG/DGF members committed acts of violence to maintain membership and discipline, both within the gang and against non-gang members.  Members committed acts of violence, including murder, attempted murder and assaults in order to promote within the leadership structure of the gang.

BMG/DGF, including its leadership, members and associates, constituted an “enterprise” that constituted an ongoing organization, whose members functioned as a continuing unit for a common purpose of achieving the objectives of the enterprise.  The enterprise was engaged in, and its activities affected, interstate and foreign commerce.  The purpose of the BMG/DGF enterprise included the following:

• Preserving and protecting the power, territory, reputation, respect and profits of the enterprise through the use of intimidation, violence, threats of violence, assaults, murder and attempted murder;
   
• Promoting and enhancing the enterprise and its members’ and associates’ activities, including, but not limited to, murders, attempted murders, robberies, drug distribution and other criminal activities;
   
• Keeping the community and rivals in fear of the enterprise and its members and associates through violence and threats of violence;
   
• Providing financial support and information to gang members, including those incarcerated in the United States;
   
• Providing assistance to other gang members who committed crimes for and on behalf of the gang;
   
• Hindering, obstructing, and preventing law enforcement officers from identifying, apprehending, and successfully prosecuting and punishing members of the enterprise.

BMG/DGF also held gang meetings to communicate gang information, to recruit members, issue punishment and collect gang dues from each BMG/DGF member for the benefit of the BMG/DGF organization.  A portion of the dues were saved and utilized locally in what was referred to as a “community rent box” (CRB) while another portion was sent up the chain of command to gang leadership.  BMG/DGF members were permitted to earn their money for dues through various methods, including, but not limited to, robberies, fraud schemes, and drug distribution.  The monies were used locally for loans to gang members, drug purchases to maintain drug houses, firearm purchases for gifts and cellular telephones for high-ranking members who were in jail.  Individuals selling narcotics in and around Haywood Street who were not BMG/DGF members were also required to pay gang dues in order to continue their drug sales in territory controlled by BMG/DGF.  Individuals who did not pay gang dues risked being robbed, assaulted or murdered.  

In his leadership position, Devine directed members of his gang to shoot a rival gang member, Adarius Fowler, who died from gunshot wounds.  He also ordered a gang member to shoot a person who provided information to law enforcement regarding the murder of Fowler.  Devine presided over a “beat-in” gang initiation of a BMG/DGF gang member and personally assaulted another gang member whose loyalty he questioned.  Devine conspired with other gang members to initiate and silence another individual believed to be cooperating with law enforcement.

Mangum along with other gang members conspired to shoot a rival gang member, Rodriguez Burrell, because he refused to pay money to BMG/DCF.  Burrell was shot multiple times in the presence of his father and died of his wounds.

Devine and Mangum both sold drugs on behalf of BMG/ DGF.  Specifically, the jury found Devine guilty of conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute more than 280 grams of cocaine base (crack), more than 500 grams of cocaine and a quantity of marijuana.  Devine frequently provided drugs to lower ranking gang members for further distribution into the community.  The jury found Mangum guilty of conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine and marijuana.