Six individuals believed to be part of the "Unknown Vice Lords" gang have been indicted following a series of violent actions in Tennessee, as announced by the Department of Justice. The accused gang members face charges of conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, and firearms violations, according to an indictment that was recently made public by the Western District of Tennessee.
These developments stem from an incident that occurred in September 2020, when, after a rival gang initiated a shooting injuring four, the UVL Ghost Mob allegedly orchestrated a retaliatory attack which involved spraying a residence with bullets from assault rifles and court documents specify that the alleged gang, a subset of the Almighty Vice Lord Nation, has been acting violently in the area and elsewhere; the Justice Department described the accused as having a "blatant disregard for public safety." "As alleged, these individuals showed a blatant disregard for public safety, engaging in a retaliatory gang shooting in a residential neighborhood," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, highlighting the disruption and fear such gang violence brings to communities.
Among those indicted were Antwon Brown, Cordera Douglas, Willie Merriweather, Tevin Richardson, Ricky Rogers, Jr., and Laraveus Williams, with ages ranging from 32 to 41. These charges carry sentences of up to 20 years imprisonment for assault with a dangerous weapon and 10 years for both conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder, with additional mandatory sentences for the firearms charges if convicted, "The premeditated and horrendous acts of violence that these gang members committed demonstrates a blatant disregard for human life," said Special Agent in Charge Jamey VanVliet of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Division, in commitment to cracking down on such violent crime.
The case is currently under prosecution by Trial Attorneys Lisa M. Thelwell and Dennis Robinson, with support from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee, a part of the overarching effort to prosecute violent crimes within Memphis and surrounding areas by employing federal laws and resources. This concerted effort involves multiple law enforcement agencies aiming to apprehend violent offenders and prevent further gang-related incidents, the ATF and Memphis Police Department have been integral in the investigation, and the Violent Crime Initiative continues to partner local, state, and federal agencies in this ongoing battle.
