OFF THE WIRE
Detroit— Federal prosecutors on Friday indicted the national president of the Devil's Diciples Motorcycle Club and 40 associates in a major crackdown on organized crime.
Those charged include National President Jeff Garvin Smith and National Vice President Paul Anthony Darrah for allegedly being involved in violent crime, racketeering, drug trafficking, firearms crimes, obstruction of justice and illegal gambling.
Investigators arrested 31 people Friday in Michigan and Alabama. Five others already were in custody.
Investigators also seized more than 60 weapons and more than 6,000 rounds of ammunition and toppled eight methamphetamine labs.
Eighteen people are charged with violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act by conducting an illegal enterprise. The enterprise included murder, robbery, extortion, drug trafficking, obstruction of justice and other crimes, prosecutors said.
"For years, according to the indictment, the Devil's Diciples have spread fear in cities throughout Michigan and around the country," said Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer. "This violent criminal enterprise allegedly profits from drug trafficking and illegal gambling, and uses intimidation and violence to silence its adversaries and maintain control over its members. Today's arrests of the Devil's Diciples' top leaders and 39 of the gxxg's members and associates are an important step in our efforts to dismantle violent criminal enterprises across the country."
The motorcycle club — which intentionally misspells its name —was based in Clinton Township and operated regional chapters in Michigan, Alabama, Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and beyond, prosecutors said.
Members distributed drugs, stole and sold motorcycles, ran illegal gambling dens, robbed and extorted people and committed violent acts, prosecutors said.
It is the second major crackdown on motorcycle clubs in recent years.
In 2009, a 74-defendant racketeering indictment was unsealed against members of the Highwaymen Motorcycle Club. The case — one of the largest ever conducted in the eastern district of Michigan — eventually included indictments against more than 90 alleged members on charges including racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder, drug dealing and assault.
Several people have been convicted so far in the Highwaymen case.
The Devil's Diciples indictment comes more than three years after Smith was originally charged with drug trafficking and other crimes alongside 17 other members and associates.
In October 2009, a federal judge dismissed the indictment against Smith following a request from prosecutors.
Sixteen members and associates operated slot machines at several gxxg clubhouses in Michigan, Arizona and Alabama, according to the indictment.
In August 2003, Vincent John Witort and other alleged members robbed, kidnapped and attempted to murder other members of the Arizona Chapter for violating Devil's Diciples rules, prosecutors said.
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120713/METRO/207130427/1361/Feds-bust-Devil-s-Disciples-biker-club--indict-41
