Member of Gang-Based Criminal Enterprise Convicted of Racketeering Conspiracy, Murder, Other Charges Related to Series of Home Invasion Robberies

MIAMI – A federal jury in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has convicted gang member Derrick Slade (aka “D” or “Solja”), 28, with racketeering conspiracy, armed robbery, conspiracy, murder, and other crimes following a rash of violence that plagued Broward County from 2015 to 2021.

According to evidence presented at trial, in November 2015, Slade joined a criminal enterprise that committed armed home invasions, armed robberies, assaults, attempted murders, and murders. Slade was convicted of engaging in a racketeering conspiracy that included the commission of murder. According to evidence presented at trial on November 3, 2015, Slade shot and killed a man  during the course of a home invasion robbery in Dania Beach, Fla. The next day, on November 4, 2015, Slade was involved in another home invasion robbery in Lauderhill, Fla., that resulted in the death of a second man. On November 25, 2015, Slade shot a third man and left him for dead during a home invasion robbery in Hollywood, Fla., which was captured on a security camera video. Slade also committed two other burglaries in Hollywood in November 2015. He and his fellow gang members advertised their success on social media to advance the gang’s prestige and reputation.  

Slade was convicted of 10 counts, including RICO conspiracy, Hobbs Act conspiracy, conspiracy to use or carry a firearm during a crime of violence, causing the death of a person by using a firearm, three counts of Hobbs Act robbery, and three counts of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. He now faces a statutory maximum of life imprisonment on five of those charges, plus an additional 30 years for the discharge of a firearm during the three robberies.

Sentencing for Slade is set for December 13, 2022, at 1:15 p.m. in Fort Lauderdale before the Honorable William P. Dimitrouleas.

United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Juan Antonio Gonzalez and Robert M. DeWitt, Acting Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami, made the announcement. 

FBI Miami investigated this case, with assistance from Broward Sheriff’s Office, Hollywood Police Department, Lauderhill Police Department, Hallandale Beach Police Department, Davie Police Department, and Fort Lauderdale Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul F. Schwartz and Jeffrey N. Kaplan prosecuted the case. 

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case no.: 20-60107-cr-Dimitrouleas(s).

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