Alleged Gang Members Accused of RICO Conspiracy

A federal grand jury has indicted a number of defendants accused of conspiring to participate in a racketeering enterprise. The individuals, alleged to be members of the Tree Top Piru Bloods gang (TTP Bloods), are also accused of a conspiracy to distribute drugs and a number of gun violations.^[1]

The indictment alleges a number of acts taken by the accused in furtherance of their racketeering scheme.^[2] For example, the indictment alleges that last year, accused gang member Michelle Hebron wrote to Steve Willock in prison to verify TTP rules, including one which stated that non-gang members who sold drugs in TTP territory without TTP permission, were to be robbed.^[3]

TTP is not a Maryland phenomenon. The gang is thought to have branches around the nation. The Maryland Branch of TTP has been said to have its roots in another local gang which started in 1999 at the Washington County Detention Center in Hagerstown, Maryland.^[4] That gang was created to assure mutual protection against aggressive acts of other inmates from the Baltimore area.^[5] As a result, recruitment began inside of the prisons and then spread outside of the prison and all throughout Maryland. Between 2000 and 2003, Defendant Steve Willock, assumed leadership of the Maryland TTP and directed operations from prison.^[6] Later, a group of female gang members grew out of the original TTP calling themselves Tree Top Pirettes.^[7]

Each of the defendants has been charged with a RICO conspiracy and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.^[8]

Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organziation (RICO) crimes, as defined under 18 U.S.C. § 1962, consists of three different crimes that can be committed. In addition, the RICO statute also includes an additional conspiracy provision.^[9]§1962 makes it unlawful for any person who has received any income derived, directly or indirectly, from a pattern of racketeering activity or through collection of an unlawful debt in which such person has participated as a principal as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 2, to use or invest, directly or indirectly, any part of such income, or the proceeds of such income, in acquisition of any interest in, or the establishment or operation of, any enterprise which is engaged in, or the activities of which affect, interstate or foreign commerce.^[10]

In addition, it shall also be unlawful for any person through a pattern of racketeering activity or through collection of an unlawful debt to acquire or maintain, directly or indirectly, any interest in or control of any enterprise which is engaged in, or the activities of which affect, interstate or foreign commerce.^[11]Furthermore, § 1962 makes it unlawful for any person employed by or associated with any enterprise engaged in, or the activities of which affect, interstate or foreign commerce, to conduct or participate, directly or indirectly, in the conduct of such enterprise’s affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity or collection of unlawful debt.^[12]Moreover, § 1962 holds criminally liable any person who conspires to violate any of the provisions of subsection (a), (b), or (c) of this section.^[13]

Racketeering activity, as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 1961, includes a number of criminal activities, including murder and robbery,^[14] both of which the indictment alleges the defendants participated in.
Federal criminal defense attorney Douglas McNabb has written extensively on RICO crimes. Some of his work can be read here.

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[1] Ernesto Londono, 28 Alleged Gang Members Face Indictment on Racketeering Charges, The Washington Post, Feb. 26, 2008 (available at washingtonpost.com).
[2] Id.
[3] Id.
[4] Id.
[5] Id.
[6] Id.
[7] Id.
[8] Id.
[9]Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, 18 USC § 1962 (2008).
[10] Id.
[11] Id.
[12] Id.
[13] Id.
[14]18 U.S.C. § 1961 (2008).