MINNEAPOLIS — Federal charges have been filed against 14 alleged gang members as a high-powered crackdown continues against street violence continues in Minneapolis.
The charges come from a targeted effort involving the U.S. Attorney's Office, ATF, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), Minneapolis police and the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office.
U.S. Attorney for Minnesota Andy Luger says the charges announced Wednesday involve illegal possession of firearms by felons and possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute. He said the gangs involved - the Highs, the Lows, the Bloods and the 10z/20z's - used deadly automatic weapons and machine guns, engaged in beatings and armed robberies, and carried out planned revenge killings for the murders of fellow gang members.
"The charges present a chilling picture of the violence inflicted by the Highs, the Lows, the Bloods and other gangs on our city streets," Luger told reporters during a press conference Wednesday.
Of those just charged, seven are from the Lows, three from the Highs, one is a Blood and three are alleged members of the 10Z/20Z gang. One defendant, 27-year-old Ohagi Walker, was singled out by Luger as a high-ranking leader of the Lows.
All are charged with being a felon in possession of a firearms, while some face additional counts.
Shannon Jackson, 31, was also identified as a high-ranking member of the lows. In addition to the drugs and weapons charges in federal court, he was recently charged with murder in Hennepin County from a shooting in April that involved a gun modified with a switch.
Unlike the charges announced against 48 alleged Minneapolis gang members announced in May, the 14 defendants named Wednesday are charged as individuals, not by using the RICO racketeering law to charge as a larger criminal enterprise. Luger said additional charges against the 14 using RICO could still come, but the individual charges announced today will get violent criminals off the street, and make neighborhoods in Minneapolis safer.
Hennepin County Sheriff Dewanna Witt repeatedly cited the power of the partnership in talking about a decrease in crime across Minneapolis and the county, underlining how each entity and agency brings a particular tool kit to the table.
"As you see the collective efforts of our local, state and federal partners, we have resulted in charges being brought against individuals who have wreaked havoc on the peace and safety of our community," Witt insisted. "We take pride in the accomplishments we are sharing today, but there is still more work to be done."
The following defendants are alleged members of the Lows gang:
- Michael Marshawn Dalton, 29, is charged with possessing a firearm as a felon.
- Marquez Demar Hill-Turnipseed, 21, is charged with possession a firearm as a felon and possession of a machine gun.
- Shannon Aaron Kapriece Jackson, 31, is charged with possession of a firearm as a felon and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
- Cartrell Ismail Smith, 27, is charged with possession of a firearm as a felon and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
- Kaprice Richards, 22, is charged with possession of a firearm as a felon.
- Ohagi Charles Walker, 27, is charged with possession of a firearm as a felon.
- Clenest Demon Wells, Jr., 26, is charged with possession of a firearm as a felon.
The following defendants are alleged members of the Highs gang:
- Jermaine William Jackson, Jr., 26, is charged with possession of a firearm as a felon and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
- Adrion Kelley, 19, is charged with possession of a firearm as a felon.
- Joe Lee Rudolph-Meeks, 28, is charged with possession of a firearm as a felon.
The following defendants are alleged members of the 10z/20z gang:
- James Edward Hollman, Jr., 32, is charged with possession of a firearm as a felon.
- Devon Lamont Holt, 33, is charged with possession of a firearm as a felon.
- Marvin Miller, Jr., 35, is charged with possession of a firearm as a felon and possession of a machine gun.
The following defendant is an alleged member of the Bloods gang:
- Dante Joseph Tyus, 29, is charged with possession of a firearm as a felon.
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