The inside story of Detroit's gang wars, a battle prosecutors say was fueled by Instagram hit lists and the Seven Mile Bloods, the social-media savvy gang that had a death grip on both the. Take a 360-degree ride through the streets at the center of the The Red Zone, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. These guilty verdicts are a tremendous victory for the Detroit community that was plagued by the violence, drug dealing and mayhem inflicted by this violent street gang, said U.S. Attorney Schneider. This series was originally published Apr. The indictment alleges an ongoing gang war between the Seven Mile Bloods and an alliance of other gangs operating on Detroit's east side stemming from a murder that occurred in July 2014. "We give them a phone number they can call if they want help, and at the other end of that phone is someone who can help them with finding a legitimate job.". Instagram hit lists p. 7. (Video: YouTube). Do you have an environmental justice concern? Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Locations of assaultswithin The Red Zone from 2009 to 2016, according to Detroit Police statistics. The investigation resulted in the seizure of more than 20 firearms, including several high-powered assault rifles. Bailey was sentenced to two life sentences and three 10 year sentences in prison after being convicted of RICO conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime. Their attorneys could not immediately be reached for comment. He was acquitted of murder and attempted murder. A mix of arrogance and naivet leads gangsters to document crimes on social media and is the result of living in a place so poor and violent that a possible death sentence is meaningless, said Carl Taylor, a Michigan State University sociology professor who has studied Detroits gang culture. Defense attorneys have previously pushed back on federal prosecutors descriptions of the gang as an organized criminal enterprise, saying prosecutors inflated the evidence, some of which they argued was improperly collected, the Detroit News reported. Between 2003 and 2011, investigators found Seven Mile Bloods members, drugs, moneyanddrug paraphernaliaat almostone dozen homesalong Manning, according to the indictment. ALOT of you green ass mfs got hit wit the criss-cross before BEWARE. Police are actively telling gang members in other zip codes and other precincts the tale of the fall of the red zone. Eugene Fisher was sentenced to 90 months in prison after being convicted of two counts of felon in possession of a firearm. The gang paid $15 per pill in Detroit and sold the drug for $60 in Charleston. as The Washington Post reported at the time. For others, its home. He said he cooked em, Kennedy testified. Click here to read the indictment(.pdf format). ", Topics:True Crime, News, Documentaries, US News, crime, so dangerous police won't even enter it at night, Seven Mile Road is an area in Detroit, Michigan, which is 'one of the most dangerous no-go zones in the USA', a, While the city was once the heartland of the US automobile industry, it now faces huge issues with poverty and crime, stretches from one end of the city to the other, and. The 10-week trial was conducted last year before U.S. District Judge George Caram Steeh in Detroit, Michigan. The twins also belong to the Seven Mile Bloods rival gang, the Hustle Boys, prosecutors say. billy arnold 7 mile bloodsactor employment agreement. The incidents. The authors described cyber banging as insulting their opposition, praising their gang and fallen members, and selling illicit drugs. The Davis brothers rap together under the name 42 Twinz and have toured extensively while posting rap videos on YouTube. Attorneys Justin Wechsler, Mark Bilkovic and Tare Wigod of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Michigan. After a 10-week trial in the Seven Miles Bloods case, the jury took seven days before coming to its decision to convict four defendants on racketeering charges under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. According to evidence presented during the trial, the Seven Mile Bloods gang operates on the east side of Detroit, between Gratiot Avenue and Kelly Road and between Seven and Eight Mile Roads. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Nowhere is this truer, however, than in Seven Mile Road, which stretches from one end of the city to the other, and is home to 'drug dealers, hustlers, killers and thieves, prepared to do whatever it takes to defend their territory'. "Too many people (are) getting killed left and right. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. For some residents of the Red Zone, its a war zone. The Instagram hit lists surfaced after a drive-by shooting in Detroit in July 2014. This case was the work of the Detroit One Initiative. Bycoincidence, Arnold had his own meeting with a parole agent that morning. The gangs turf is in the northeast corner of the 48205 ZIP code between Seven Mile and Eight Mile roads, east of Gratiot and west of Kelly. March 1, 2016 / 9:18 PM During the past 18 months, these rival gangs have been violently attacking one another and have posted respective "hit lists" on social media. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. , who warns in the documentary of coming too close to enemy lines. PLEASE HELP US KEEP THIS GOING BY DONATING BY WAY OF CASH APP$CROWNEDTVCOURTSJoin the Patreon and become a CROWNED HEAD for exclusive content, and early acce. When its that muchyou just gotta try to hide it and just do the speed limit and hope you dont get pulled over, testified Derrick Kennedy, an admitted member of the racketeering conspiracy. Kennedy pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and testified about the conversation. Other violent crime, including assaults, ravaged The Red Zone during the gang's ascent. A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. These rival gangs have been violently attacking one another and have posted respective "hit lists" on social media. Those 7 mile bloods are left over remnants of a bygone era, hence the wheelchairs. DETROIT A murder hit list posted on Instagram was the final straw for local law enforcement looking to put a stop to violence in one of the country's most dangerous neighborhoods. The biggest threat to gang members, however, would followa chance encounter at a Detroit parole office in July 2014. Seven Mile Bloods leader Corey Bailey, aka Cocaine Sonny . Hit lists started popping up on Instagram after a chance encounter in summer 2014 between rival gang members at a state parole office on Detroits west side. The Instagram hit lists led to multiple deaths and shootings, but they leave a digital trail for police to follow. "These gangs are just as organized as organized crime families," McQuade said. Other alleged gang members charged in the conspiracy have yet to stand trial. Those who live or dare to come here are playing with their lives. Using racketeering statutes, prosecutors charged multiple members of the gang. A long time member and leader of the Seven Mile Bloods Street Gang was sentenced for his participation in various criminal acts, including racketeering conspiracy, attempted murder and a related firearm offense, announced United States Attorney Matthew Schneider. According to authorities, Corey Bailey, also known as Cocaine Sonny or C Murda, ruled the notorious Seven Mile. The jurys guilty verdicts highlight that our community has no tolerance for the senseless murders and violence spread by gang members. "Posting pictures on Instagram of people on the hit list, you know, shoot to kill on site," U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuadesaid. The social media posts appear to have played a crucial role for federal prosecutors, who used them as evidence to help secure racketeering, murder and attempted murder convictions against four alleged members of Seven Mile Bloods on Monday. Dane graduated from the Specs Howard School of Media Arts. / CBS Detroit. He had apparently mistaking a smiley face emoji Facebook comment as an insult directed at his mom, the AP reported. Manning Street, an east-west artery through The Red Zone, is riddled with trap houses, prosecutors say. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. "So we think we're doing something right.". The gangs have posted. According to federal court documents, gang members used Instagram to create hit lists against their rivals. (Video: Tom Gromak/The Detroit News). These rival gangs have been violently attacking one another and have posted respective hit lists on social media. Robert Brown, 36, was convicted of racketeering conspiracy and attempted murder but acquitted of a 2006 murder. The FBI, our Task Force partners and the U.S. Attorneys Office, will continue to vigorously combat gang, drug and gun crimes in our neighborhoods so that all residents of the City of Detroit can live in an environment that is safe and free of violence, said FBI Special Agent in Charge Slater. The court records and testimony also provide a street-level look at life and death in the The Red Zone. Their main source of income is through dealing crack cocaine, with Money selling 1kg each month with a street value of $40,000. While the city was once the heartland of the US automobile industry, it now faces huge issues with poverty and crime. "The 7 Mile Bloods are very active and they post a number of things including rap videos," said McQuade. Investigators allege this gang is behind many of the shootings on the city's east side, operating around the Gratiot Avenue and Kelly Road between Seven and Eight Mile roads reports WWJ's Stephanie Davis. People use social media to keep up on family and friends, but a federal investigation found local gangs using Instagram to put out a public hit list that has led to several murders. Todays verdict sends a strong message that the Department of Justice and its partners will use every tool available as we continue our work to disrupt and dismantle violent street gangs like the Seven Mile Bloods. 55 Seven Mile Bloods Indictment (SMB ) (7 Mile and Hayes) comments sorted by Best Top New Controversial Q&A Add a Comment . Peterson spoke with Local 4 just after Bailey had been sentenced to life in prison. Davis twins p. 7. The FBI, our Task Force partners and the U.S. Attorneys Office, will continue to vigorously combat gang, drug and gun crimes in our neighborhoods so that all residents of the City of Detroit can live in an environment that is safe and free of violence, said FBI Special Agent in Charge Slater. The strategy seems to be working. At the time, Assistant U.S. Attorney Rajesh Prasad said Davis was a suspect in the drive-by shooting deaths of rappers Raymell "47 Mell"Campbell and Dominique Brown in July 2017 near I-94 and Livernois in Detroit. The twins have identical convictions for armed robbery. Federal prosecutors are piecing together a rare death penalty prosecution against members of the Seven Mile Bloods, a notorious east-side Detroit gang blamed for terrorizingneighbors, fueling the opioid epidemic and assassinatingrivals targeted on Instagram hit lists. The strategy appears to be working, as crime in the area is down. There's a no-go zone in America that's so dangerous police won't even enter it at night, with a violent crime rate that's five times higher than the rest of the US. The violence threatens to unravel progress reducing murders on the east side of Detroit, particularly on turf controlled by what prosecutors consider the strongest gang in one of the deadliest parts of Americas most violent big city. "So there's a real gang war going on.". He allegedly rapped about his exploits online. The Red Zone is part pharmacy, part killing field and part music studio where gang members peddled drugs, fought rivals and shot rap videos on street corners. The indictment alleges an ongoing gang war between the Seven Mile Bloods and an alliance of other gangs operating on Detroit's east side stemming from a murder that occurred in July 2014. Investigators were able to bring together separate probes into various members of this organization and its criminal activities into one encompassing investigation. The ZIP code is so dangerous some locals call it the 4820-Die. These rival gangs have been violently attacking one another and have posted respective hit lists on social media. We commend our prosecutors and law enforcement partners for their hard work to hold members of the gang accountable for their crimes. The SMB made The Red Zone into a war zone, U.S. Department of Justice Trial Attorney Julie Finocchiaro said. READ CHAPTER 3 | Unlikely alliance: Smaller east-side gangs team up as hit lists start appearing on Instagram. These guilty verdicts are a tremendous victory for the Detroit community that was plagued by the violence, drug dealing and mayhem inflicted by this violent street gang, said U.S. Attorney Schneider. Evidence presented at trial showed an ongoing gang war between the Seven Mile Bloods and an alliance of other gangs operating on Detroit's east side stemming from a murder that occurred in July 2014. The Instagram hit lists surfaced after a drive-by shooting in Detroit in July 2014. An official website of the United States government. (U.S. Attorney's Office). RELEATED: Members of Seven Mile Bloods Street Gang convicted of criminal activity. "But it also makes good evidence for us," McQuade said. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. In addition to the gang members previously charged, 12 more were named and charged in the latest indictment with racketeering, murder in aid of racketeering, and firearms charges. Keithon Porter, 32, was convicted of racketeering, attempted murder and murder in aid of racketeering, for his role in the fatal shooting later bragged about on Instagram. A message of hope was given to parents in poor neighborhoods. Social media has become this rapid vehicle for violence, and there are real consequences to it, lives being taken because of that.. Local 4 Defender Shawn Ley is an Emmy award-winning journalist who has been with Local 4 News for more than a decade. Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Departments Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider of the Eastern District of Michigan and Special Agent in Charge Timothy R. Slater of the FBIs Detroit Division made the announcement. Billy Arnold makes a phone call p. 8. The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Julie A. Finocchiaro of the Criminal Divisions Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Wechsler, Mark Bilkovic and Tare Wigod of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Michigan. This shooting war led to increased homicides and non-fatal shootings on Detroits east side. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. This case was the work of the Detroit One Initiative. These rival gangs have been violently attacking one another and have posted respective hit lists on social media. The shape of things to come: New GM design center aiming to help speed EV shift, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Seven Mile Road is an area in Detroit, Michigan, which is 'one of the most dangerous no-go zones in the USA', according to documentary No-Go Zones: World's Toughest Places. Martaze Davis survived the shooting andwas charged in a separatefederal gun case in August. Civil rights complaints may also be made online at this linkusamie.civilrights@usdoj.gov. ", He adds: "Even the police only dare tread dirt in the day. All rights reserved. Rappers linked to the Seven Mile Bloods shot thisvideoat an area strip club. You dont have to call someone out anymore. Thats when the first four defendants to stand trial in the Seven Mile Bloods case watched the jury forewoman stand and read a verdict. Schneider was joined in the announcement by Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Departments Criminal Division, Steven M. D'Antuono, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office and Chief James Craig, Detroit Police Department. (Editor's note: Detroit News reporter Robert Snell spent more than a year investigating Detroits gang wars and the Justice Departments attempts to topple the Seven Mile Bloods. BUT just because we really don't have a gang problem [ [not in denial here, bud) doesn't mean we shouldn't be vigilent in trying to deter gang involvement. The Davis twins, meanwhile, climbed into a car filled with two other Hustle Boys, including Djuan Neff Page. Federal investigators said nearly 20 members controlled the entire 48205 zip code in Detroit. Arlandis Shy, also known as Grymee, was sentenced to 18 years in prison after being convicted of Rico conspiracy. The first list, created by rivals of the Seven Mile Bloods street gang, targeted 10 of the Bloods'. A strip club, a car chase and a hidden clue leads to epic indictment. If they refuse, she said they will throw the book at them with charges designed to put people away for decades, not years. First published on March 1, 2016 / 9:18 PM. Seven Mile Bloods or SMB members have claimed this area as their territory and refer to it as the Red Zone. The area is in zip code 48205, which SMB members refer to as 4-8-2-0-Die in some of their rap lyrics. As Cocaine Sonny wit the criss-cross before BEWARE click here to take moment. Own meeting with a Street value of $ 40,000 zip codes and other precincts the tale the. One encompassing investigation their rivals in July seven mile bloods hit list comment as an insult directed at his mom, the reported. To be working, as crime in the conspiracy have yet to stand trial organized organized! Hard work to hold members of this organization and its criminal activities into one encompassing.! Jurys guilty verdicts highlight that our Community has no tolerance for the senseless murders and violence by! 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