Bloods Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Federal Racketeering Charges

WASHINGTON – A Nashville, Tenn., man pleaded guilty today in federal court to charges of conspiring to participate in racketeering activity related to his membership in the Bloods gang criminal enterprise , announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Jerry E. Martin.

William Walden, 23, aka “Wild Bill,” pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger in the Middle District of Tennessee to one count of conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity.

According to court documents, Walden and other Bloods gang members and associates agreed to commit multiple acts of murder, robbery and narcotics trafficking on behalf of the Bloods gang.  Walden and numerous Bloods gang members met on a regular basis at various locations throughout the Middle District of Tennessee, including Shelby Park, Cedar Hill Park and the Galaxy Star Drug Awareness and Gang Prevention Center in Nashville, to report on gang-related business, collect dues, commit disciplinary actions against fellow gang members, discuss acts of violence against rival gang members and initiate or “jump in” new members by beating them for a period of time, among other things.

Walden admitted to being a Bloods member and to engaging in specific criminal activity in support of the criminal enterprise, such as possessing cocaine with an intent to sell it, possessing a Glock 9mm semi-automatic firearm and assaulting Bloods gang member Joedon Bradley during a gang meeting at the Galaxy Star Drug Awareness and Gang Prevention Center. These acts occurred at various times during March and June 2010.

Sentencing is scheduled for March 23, 2012. The plea agreement states that the appropriate sentence is a term of 10 years in prison.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department; the Gallatin, Tenn., Police Department; with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service and the Davidson County, Tenn., District Attorney’s Office.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scarlett Singleton of the Middle District of Tennessee and Trial Attorney Cody L. Skipper of the Organized Crime and Gang Section in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.