Detroit One Collaboration Leads To Expanded Racketeering Indictment Of Violent Gang Members From Detroit’s Eastside

The work of the Detroit One partnership of local, state and federal law enforcement resulted in the indictment today of 12 more members of Seven Mile Bloods street gang, United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced.

Joining McQuade in the announcement were Acting Special Agent in Charge David A. Grant, Drug Enforcement Administration, Detroit Division, Special Agent in Charge David P. Gelios, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Chief James Craig, Detroit Police Department.

The superseding indictment unsealed today adds charges for racketeering, murder in aid of racketeering, firearms violations and related offenses. The previous indictment had charged three other individuals.

According to the superseding indictment, the gang operates on the east side of Detroit, between Gratiot Avenue and Kelly Road and between Seven and Eight Mile Roads. 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.

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. During the past 18 months, these rival gangs have been violently attacking one another and have posted respective “hit lists” on social media. This shooting war has led to increased homicides and non-fatal shootings on Detroit’s east side.

The indictment also stems from collaborative law enforcement efforts to dismantle the opioid pipeline from Detroit to other states, alleging incidents in which SMB members were arrested in Charleston, West Virginia, in connection with drug trafficking.

Under the Detroit One Initiative, investigators were able to bring together separate probes into various members of this organization and its criminal activities into one encompassing investigation. Partners include the Detroit Police Department Gang Intelligence Unit, the FBI Violent Gang Task Force, which consists of representatives of Detroit Police Department, U.S. Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Patrol, Michigan Department of Corrections and Michigan State Police, with the cooperation of the ATF and DEA.

Charged today are:

• Billy Arnold, a/k/a “B-Man,” “Berinzo,” “Killa,” 29, of Detroit, with RICO conspiracy and multiple counts of murder in aid of racketeering; attempted murder in aid of racketeering; assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering; use of a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence resulting in death; possession of a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence; and felon in possession of a firearm;

• Steven Arthur, Jr., a/k/a “Steve-O,” 26, of Detroit, with RICO conspiracy; possession of a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence; and felon in possession of a firearm; • Eugene Fisher, a/k/a “Fist,” 35, of Detroit, with RICO conspiracy; attempted murder in aid of racketeering; assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering; use of a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence; possession of a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence; and felon in possession of a firearm;

• Corey Bailey, a/k/a “Sonny,” “Cocaine Sonny,” 28, of Detroit, with RICO conspiracy; murder in aid of racketeering; attempted murder in aid of racketeering; assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering; use of a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence; and possession of a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence;

• Quincy Graham, a/k/a “Dub,” “Q,” 32, of Detroit, with RICO conspiracy; possession of a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence; and felon in possession of a firearm;

• Robert Brown II, a/k/a “R.O.,” 33, of Warren, Michigan, with RICO conspiracy and possession of a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence;

• Jerome Gooch, a/k/a “Rome,” “Dada,” 30, of Detroit, Michigan and Charleston with RICO conspiracy; possession of a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence;

• Michael Rogers, a/k/a “Smoke,” “Ace,” 33, of Eastpointe, with RICO conspiracy; possession of a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence;

• Derrick Kennedy, a/k/a “Dip,” 29, of Warren, with RICO conspiracy; possession of a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence;

• Devon Patterson, a/k/a “Duck,” “Sosa,” 30, of Detroit, with RICO conspiracy; possession of a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence;

• Christopher Owens, a/k/a “Baby O,” “Cee,” 29, of Charleston, West Virginia, with RICO conspiracy; possession of a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence;

• Jeffery Adams, a/k/a “Brick,” “Product,” 26, of Detroit, with RICO conspiracy; possession of a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence;

• Arlandis Shy, a/k/a “Grymee,” “VIL,” 26, of Clinton Township with RICO conspiracy; possession of a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence;

• Anthony Lovejoy, a/k/a “PT,” 33, of Charleston, West Virginia and Buckeye, Arizona, with RICO conspiracy; possession of a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence; and

• Diondre Fitzpatrick, a/k/a “D-Nice,” 26, of Harper Woods, with RICO conspiracy; possession of a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence.

“When law enforcement became aware of the violent gang activity in this neighborhood, the Detroit One partnership poured resources into dismantling the gangs that are responsible,” McQuade said. “We are using our combined resources to restore peace to this neighborhood for its residents.”

DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge David A. Grant stated, “DEA will continue to work hand in hand with the United States Attorney’s Office and the members of Detroit One in the continuing effort to reduce the violence associated with drug trafficking in all areas of Detroit. Today’s indictment demonstrates solid success in the effort to dismantle the Seven Mile Bloods, and to curtail some of the inevitable violence stemming from their trafficking in drugs on Detroit’s east side.”

"The Detroit One initiative continues to be a valuable partnership for the FBI, and for the city of Detroit," said David P. Gelios, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Detroit Division. "The dismantling of violent gangs in this city must remain a priority, and we remain fully committed to that end. These gang arrest operations are absolutely necessary in order to make Detroit a more livable, workable, and secure city."

Detroit One is a collaborative effort between law enforcement and the community to reduce homicide and other violent crime in Detroit. By working collaboratively, local, state, and federal law enforcement is striving to maximize its ability to identify and arrest the persons and groups initiating the violence in Detroit. This indictment is the latest in a string of indictments from the United States Attorney’s Office and Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office over the last two years involving violent street gangs in the city of Detroit. Most significantly, Detroit has seen a reduction in homicides every year since the Detroit One collaboration began in 2013