11 Minneapolis Gang Members Charged with RICO Conspiracy, Murder in Aid of Racketeering, and Drug Trafficking Offenses

MINNEAPOLIS – A federal grand jury in Minneapolis returned an 18-count indictment yesterday against 11 alleged members of the Lows—a violent Minneapolis street gang—for crimes including Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy involving murder, attempted murder, gun trafficking, and drug trafficking.

“The Lows are an exceptionally violent criminal street gang that has terrorized north Minneapolis for nearly 20 years. Through threats and violence—shootings and murders—the Lows gang has long sought to establish dominion over large swaths of our city.” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger.  “My office will continue to respond to gang violence by treating it as the organized criminal activity it is. This indictment is an important step in dismantling a violent street gang that has devastated families and communities in north Minneapolis.”

“According to the indictment, these defendants are leaders, organizers, and members of the Lows street gang, a violent gang that allegedly committed multiple murders and attempted murders and trafficked in guns and drugs, including fentanyl,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. 

“Violent gangs that engage in bloody street wars and peddle deadly drugs endanger our communities. The Criminal Division, along with our local, state, and federal partners, is committed to holding violent criminals accountable, including by bringing racketeering charges.” 

“More than 100 people lose their lives to gun violence every day in the United States,” said Special Agent in Charge Travis Riddle of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) St. Paul Field Division. “There will never be a time where this will be considered acceptable. Our ATF agents put forth solid investigative work in this case utilizing crime gun intelligence that without a doubt aided the case announced today. ATF is happy to work alongside each of our partners in this investigation, and we are grateful to the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Luger, and the entire team for taking up this challenging RICO case.”

“To participate in the arrests of 11 alleged violent criminals and see charges filed is very fulfilling,” said Chief Brian O’Hara of the Minneapolis Police Department. “This indictment sends a clear message to violent actors that we are serious about ending violent crime in our cities. Through the partnership between our embedded investigator, several other law enforcement agencies, the Criminal Division, and the United States Attorney’s Office, the countless hours of time invested up to this point have paid off. I trust that these charges increase the hope of justice for the individuals and communities that have been so negatively impacted by these allegedly violent actors.”   

“People living in every neighborhood deserve to live safely and freely,” said Sheriff Dawanna Witt of the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office. “Thanks to the work of local, state, and federal law enforcement, the defendants charged in today’s indictment are off the street and no longer free to terrorize our communities. We appreciate our federal prosecutors for their impactful work and remain committed to this partnership throughout our agency.” 

“The charges in this indictment reflect our unwavering commitment to bringing violent criminals to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “For too long, the Lows have inflicted pain and spread fear in north Minneapolis. Together with our law enforcement partners, we are determined to remove this threat from our communities and help restore a sense of security to all who call this city home.” 

“We are committed to doing everything we can to get illegal guns, and the criminals committing these crimes, off Minnesota streets,” said Superintendent Drew Evans of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. “This partnership between federal, state and local agencies to go after these criminals is working — and we’re just getting started.” 

“The Lows, and criminal organizations like them, wreak havoc on our communities, threatening the safety of our communities on a daily basis through their many acts of violence, murder, and narcotics and firearms trafficking,” said Special Agent in Charge Jamie Holt of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) St. Paul. “HSI St. Paul will continue to foster a strong collaboration with our law enforcement partners to bring an end to the chaos these criminal organizations inflict on our local communities.” 

“Today’s indictment provides a stark reminder that violence and drug trafficking go hand-in-hand,” said Special Agent in Charge Steven T. Bell of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Omaha Division. “These were not victimless crimes. Communities were hurt. The DEA will continue its unwavering focus to remove threats of violence and hold accountable the individuals responsible for inflicting fear on the streets of Minneapolis.”

“The individuals named in this indictment allegedly engaged in homicide, and illegal drug and firearms trafficking, which created an atmosphere of terror and disrupted countless lives in this community,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Ramsey E. Covington of the IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) Chicago Field Office. “These charges represent a pivotal milestone in our commitment to restore safety and uphold justice in the communities we serve. Working with their federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, IRS-CI special agents will continue to follow every financial trail to dismantle the networks fueling these criminal enterprises. We stand united against the violence and fear that street gangs have inflicted upon our communities in Minneapolis and elsewhere.”

“This multi-count indictment against ranking members of the Lows gang is an excellent example of multiple law enforcement agencies combining their expertise and resources to conduct investigations with the common goal of taking down violent leaders perpetuating street violence involving guns and narcotics,” said Inspector in Charge Bryan Musgrove of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Denver Division. “These RICO charges aim to remove these allegedly violent offenders from our community. U.S. Postal Inspectors are committed to continuing our work to dismantle drug trafficking operations to keep USPS customers and employees safe from greedy drug traffickers who favor profit over human lives.”

As alleged in this indictment, the defendants were members of the Lows criminal street gang, which has been in existence in Minneapolis since approximately 2004. The Lows are primarily active in the northside of Minneapolis.  They traffic in firearms and narcotics, including fentanyl, and use threats, intimidation, and violation to protect their territory, reputation, illicit proceeds, and power. The Lows use violence and threats of violence to target rival gang members as well as individuals who pose a threat to the enterprise or its operations.  

The indictment charges that the defendants engaged in a pattern of racketeering—that is, unlawful acts of violence, gun trafficking, and narcotics trafficking—for the benefit of the Lows enterprise. The indictment charges 78 overt acts committed in furtherance of the enterprise. These acts include seven murders or attempted murders involving a total of ten victims.  

The following eleven members of the Lows gang, all from Minneapolis, have been indicted for the following crimes:

• Ashimiyu Alowonle III, a.k.a. Cash (“Alowonle”), 38, is charged with RICO Conspiracy and Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances.
• Timothy Callender III, a.k.a. Lil’ Tim (“Callender”), 26, is charged with RICO Conspiracy and Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances.
• Glenn Carter III, a.k.a. G5, a.k.a. Bossman Carter (“Carter”), 23, is charged with RICO Conspiracy, Using, Carrying, or Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence Resulting in Death and Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances.  Carter is charged with committing a murder on May 14, 2022 as a racketeering act in furtherance of the RICO Conspiracy.  
• Victor Collins, a.k.a. Vic (“Collins”), 22, is charged with RICO Conspiracy, Using, Carrying, or Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence Resulting in Death, Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, and Possessing a Firearm a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking.  Collins is charged with committing a murder and an attempted murder on February 27, 2024 as a racketeering act in furtherance of the RICO Conspiracy.  
• Damari Douglas, a.k.a. Mari (“Douglas”), 20, is charged with RICO Conspiracy, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and Possession of a Machinegun. Douglas is charged with committing a murder on December 3, 2023 as a racketeering act in furtherance of the RICO Conspiracy.
• Deontae Jackson, a.k.a. Leef (“D.Jackson”), 35, is charged with RICO Conspiracy and Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances.
• Shannon Jackson, a.k.a. Shakedown (“S.Jackson”), 32, is charged with RICO Conspiracy, Using, Carrying, or Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence Resulting in Death, Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, Possessing a Firearm a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm.  Jackson is charged with committing a murder on April 27, 2023 as a racketeering act in furtherance of the RICO Conspiracy.
• Robert Knights Jr., a.k.a. CMB Rob, a.k.a. Lil’ Rob (“Knights”), 19, is charged with RICO Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, and Possessing a Firearm a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking.
• Albert Lucas V, a.k.a. Abk Sav (“Lucas”), 20, is charged with RICO Conspiracy, Using, Carrying, or Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence Resulting in Death, and Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances.  Lucas is charged with committing a murder and an attempted murder on February 27, 2024 as a racketeering act in furtherance of the RICO Conspiracy.
• Kaprice Richards, a.k.a. Kap (“Richards”), 23, is charged with RICO Conspiracy and Using, Carrying, or Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence Resulting in Death. Richards is charged with committing an attempted murder on May 29, 2022 and a murder on April 27, 2023 as racketeering acts in furtherance of the RICO Conspiracy.  
• Cartrelle Smith, a.k.a. Pooh Moe (“Smith”), 27, is charged with RICO Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, and Possessing a Firearm a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking.  

If convicted, the defendants face a range of penalties, including up to life in prison for racketeering conspiracy involving acts of murder, using a firearm to commit murder, and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.

The ATF, FBI, Minneapolis Police Department, IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, DEA, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and Minnesota Department of Corrections are investigating the cases, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service. 

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Garrett S. Fields and David M. Classen for the District of Minnesota and Trial Attorney Jared Engelking of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section.

An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.