Members of the Gangster Disciples Have Pleaded Guilty to Violent Crimes

Memphis, TN – Seven members of the Gangster Disciples have pleaded guilty to committing violent crimes in aid of racketeering activity. Lawrence J. Laurenzi, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the guilty pleas today.

According to information presented in court, the Gangster Disciples are a violent criminal gang which began in the Chicago, Illinois area. In the 1970’s, the leaders of two different Chicago-based gangs, the Black Disciples and the Supreme Gangsters, aligned their respective groups and created the Gangster Disciples.

Once united, the Gangster Disciples began recruiting heavily in Chicago, within Illinois jails and prisons, and throughout the United States. By the mid-1980’s, the group had spread throughout the Midwestern and Eastern United States. The Gangster Disciples are active in approximately 35 states including Tennessee.

The purpose of the enterprise includes preserving and protecting the power of the enterprise through the use of threats, intimidation, and acts of violence including murder.

On June 21, 2014, Florence Anthony ("Anthony"), a member of the Gangster Disciples, got into an altercation with a group of individuals at the Hillview Apartments located in Memphis, Tennessee. Anthony reported the confrontation to her Gangster Disciples chain-of-command. As a result, Anthony, along with fellow gang member Brandon Milton ("Milton"), returned to the Hillview Apartments to retaliate. Milton fired at least three shots at a group of individuals standing outside the apartments. Because no one was struck, the security team for the Gangster Disciples were called in to discuss further retaliation.

At approximately 10:30 p.m. on that same day, Edwin Carvin ("Carvin"), Robert Mallory ("Mallory"), Tony Coburn ("Coburn"), Erik Reese ("Reese"), and Ranito Allen ("Allen"), all members of the Gangster Disciples, went back to the Hillview Apartments to retaliate against what were identified as rival gang members. Carvin, Mallory, Coburn, Reese and Allen were each armed with firearms and proceeded on foot through the apartments shooting four juveniles and one adult male. All five victims survived, but some sustained serious bodily injuries.

All seven members of the Ganger Disciples were indicted by a federal grand jury on a number of charges including violent crimes in aid of racketeering activity in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1959 and possession of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence in violation of 18 U.S.C. §924 (c). Today, the final defendant (Reese) pleaded guilty. Coburn is scheduled for sentencing on Thursday, March 23, 2017 at 3:30 p.m.; Mallory is set for sentencing on Friday, March 24, 2017 at 10:00 a.m.; Carvin is set for sentencing on Friday, March 24, 2017 at 1:30 p.m.; Anthony is scheduled for sentencing on Thursday, June 1, 2017 at 9:00 a.m.; Milton is scheduled for sentencing on Thursday, June 1, 2017 at 1:30 p.m.; Allen is scheduled for sentencing on Friday, June 2, 2017 at 9:00 a.m.; and Reese is scheduled for sentencing on Thursday, June 22, 2017 at 1:30 p.m. before United States District Court Judge Samuel H. Mays.

Each faces up to life in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Multi-Agency Gang Unit, Police Departments for Memphis, Bartlett and Germantown; Sheriff’s Offices for Tipton, Desoto and Shelby; and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab.

Assistant United States Attorney Jerry Kitchen, Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Kimbril-Parks, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Sam Stringfellow are prosecuting this case on the government’s behalf.