Bloods Gang Member Sentenced to Life Sentence Plus 20 Years for Racketeering (RICO) and Firearms Offenses

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Bloods gang member, Desean Solomon, was sentenced to a life sentence plus 20 years after a federal jury trial found him guilty of racketeer influenced corrupt organization (RICO) and two counts of using and carrying a firearm in furtherance of murder, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.

“Three years ago—as violent crime raged out of control—the U.S. Attorney’s Office made a decision to use every tool at our disposal to go after the gangs. Together with our federal and state partners, we brought RICO charges against major Minneapolis street gangs.  The first of those cases was the Bloods RICO. Defendant Solomon—who committed murder for the benefit of the gang—was the first RICO trial defendant to be sentenced. We hope that today’s sentence—life in prison plus twenty years—sends a message in the strongest possible terms. If you are a Minneapolis gang member, the feds are coming for you.  Get out and choose a different path before it is too late.”

“Solomon chose violence as a way of life — trafficking in fear, intimidation, and death to exert power, feed criminal ambition and expand the Blood’s grip on the streets,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “Today’s sentence reflects the gravity of the crimes committed. The FBI, alongside our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our mission to protect our communities from violent crime and will relentlessly pursue those who believe bloodshed is the path to power.”

According to court documents, Desean James Solomon, aka Black, 34, was found guilty of numerous crimes in October 2024 at trial, along with two other individuals. Evidence presented at trial proved that Solomon affiliated and associated with the Minneapolis Bloods street gang since at least 2020. Solomon has been a career criminal throughout his adulthood, committing violent crimes for the benefit of the Bloods gang which included two premeditated murders within a two-year span. Historically, the gang’s territory is located on the south side of Minneapolis, near Chicago Avenue South and 38^th Street East.

According to evidence presented at trial, Solomon and other Bloods gang members went to a nightclub in north Minneapolis in June of 2020. They assaulted a rival gang member in the men’s bathroom. Following the assault, a gun battle broke out outside the nightclub. Solomon and another Bloods member fired their weapons multiple times, resulting in the murder of a rival gang member.

According to evidence presented at trial, on April 23, 2022, Solomon and other Bloods gang members went to a bar in the Uptown neighborhood of south Minneapolis and started a large fight between members of the Bloods and members of a rival gang. Within several minutes, the Bloods members, including Solomon, left the bar and shot and killed a rival gang member.

Solomon was sentenced to life plus twenty years todayin U.S. District Court before Judge Susan R. Nelson.  In imposing sentence, Judge Nelson explained, “I was searching for a kernel of hope that you could be trusted to not be a danger to society” but that “based on your utter and complete disregard for human life, the brutality of the Bloods gang, your lack of remorse through every stage of this case . . . I am left with the certainty that you will always be a threat to public safety.”  Judge Nelson said, “My hope is this sentence sends a strong message to the Bloods gang and other thriving gangs that ruthlessly terrorize this city.”

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Minneapolis Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristian Weir represented the government at the sentencing hearing.