By Joe Johnson
An indictment obtained Oct. 24 in Barrow County by Attorney General Chris Carr's Gang Prosecution Unit charges 17 gang members with engaging in a pattern of racketeering activity that spans 10 Georgia counties, including Barrow and Athens-Clarke.
The indictment includes the crimes of murder, trafficking in Fentanyl and other dangerous drugs, various weapons offenses, and the recruitment of children.
According to the indictment, the imprisoned Georgia statewide leader of the 183 Gangster Bloods is alleged to have sent out electronic communications with other defendants encouraging the recruitment of gang members throughout the state, with an increased focus on youths.
He allegedly exchanged text messages with another defendant stating he was working on buying the neighborhood kids ice cream and putting together a cookout to recruit children to the gang, according to the indictment.
“From promoting and hosting block parties to arranging for an ice cream truck to stop by so they can pass out ice cream sandwiches, these defendants are alleged to have engaged in the recruitment of very young children,” Carr said Friday during a joint press conference with Gov. Brian Kemp.
"Gang activity targeting our schools and children is particularly egregious and must not be tolerated.”
Since becoming operational in July, the AG's gang unit has obtained 11 indictments, charging 46 alleged gang members and associates, including those announced today.
"We created the Gang Prosecution Unit with our partners in the legislature because we knew something had to be done to get dangerous criminals off our streets," Kemp said.
"The GBI's Gang Task Force has also made great strides working with law enforcement at every level to pursue those who pose a risk to our communities," he said. "Thanks to all involved in the investigation and prosecution of this case, these 17 gang members will face justice."
This past year, the GBI investigated 446 gang-related cases across 100 Georgia counties and charged more than 170 gang members.
"We value the strong working relationship we have with the Georgia Department of Corrections and the Georgia Attorney General’s Office," GBI Director Mike Register said in a news release. "Gang activity will not be tolerated out on the streets or behind the wire. These indictments and arrests make that loud and clear."
There are more than 14,000 validated Security Threat Group offenders in Georgia prisons, and since July, the GDC has confiscated more than 5,000 contraband cellphones since July and conducted 107 full facility shakedowns this calendar year alone.
"Identifying and managing those participating in gang activity from behind the walls of our facilities is paramount in our commitment to public safety and it is an ongoing battle,” Department of Corrections Commissioner Timothy C. Ward said.
The 183 Gangster Bloods, aka 1-Trey Bloods, is a set of the larger criminal street gang known as the Bloods. The gang is based out of the Bronx burrough of New York City, and Is one of the original sets of the United Blood Nation, which is an alliance of Blood sets that was formed in the Rikers Island Correctional Facility in New York.
The defendants in this case are:
Ralph "MK"Alicea, 49, in custody at Attica State Prison in New York and alleged to be a national leader of the 183 Gangster Bloods;
Jamar "Supreme" Ramsay, 39, in custody at Hays State Prison in Georgia and alleged to be a statewide leader of the 183 Gangster Bloods;
Nicholas "Necco" Wiseman, 31;
Taurus "Rich" Taylor, 30;
Nigel "Fredo" Harvey, 31;
Brantavious "Trap" Sims, 19;
Kenneth "BG”, Searcy, 31;
Akeem "Kane" Lanier, 34;
Quintavius "Brazy" Render, 34;
Dexcadrick "Biggz" Graddy, 25;
Quentin "Don Q" Walker Jr., 34;
Ritasha "Boots" Ogburn, 31;
Tonisha "Princess" Wilson, 30;
Klaip "Don Man" Sherman, 24;
also known as “Don Man”), age 24;
Aaron "Gotti" Smith, 30;
and Antwon "ODogg" Sutton, 26.
The Gang Prosecution Unit also presented evidence to a Clarke County Grand Jury, resulting in Nigel Harvey and Nicholas Wiseman’s indictment on Oct. 4, 2022.
If convicted of all offenses, Harvey faces a potential maximum penalty of 370 years in prison. and Wiseman a potential maximum penalty of 466 years in prison.
As alleged associates of the enterprise 183 Gangster Bloods, the defendants are believed to have conspired to associate together and with others for the common purpose of illegally obtaining money, weapons, and property through a pattern of racketeering activity.
All defendants are charged with Conspiracy to Violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).
The indictment includes 136 predicate acts of which the defendants are alleged to have committed and caused to be committed in furtherance of the conspiracy and to effect its objectives and purposes. All acts are alleged to have occurred between January 2019 and October 2022 and spanned the counties of Athens-Clarke, Barrow, Bulloch, Candler, Chattooga, Fulton, Gwinnett, Laurens, Monroe and Walton.
Those 136 predicate acts include murder, aggravated assault, armed robbery, trafficking cocaine, Fentanyl, methamphetamine and marijuana, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm by a first offender probationer, possession of a firearm during the commission of a Felony, terroristic threats, first degree criminal damage to property, and arson.
This case also has ties to alleged gang activity in the Department of Corrections by way of the two incarcerated individuals – Ralph Alicea, who is alleged to be a national leader of the 183 Gangster Bloods, and Jamar Ramsay, who is alleged to be a Georgia statewide leader of the gang. While incarcerated, Alicea and Ramsay are alleged to have directed other defendants to engage in criminal activity to further the 183 Gangster Bloods enterprise. In addition, the defendants are alleged to have engaged in discussions regarding the packaging and shipping of contraband items into a state prison, as well as the sale and distribution of controlled substances in Hays State Prison.
The only thing that can curtail this gang activity in our county is the National Guard and martial law. Have HUMVEE and squad of about 6 soldiers on every key street corner, heavily armed. Give them the authority to stop and search anybody that looks fishy. Time to quit playing around.
if you’re innocent and you have nothing to hide then you have nothing to worry about.
Thanks Joe. Great Scoop. We really live in the dark without your coverage. Banana Hero won't cover anything. If this keeps one person from crossing paths with these vermin you could save a life.
I'll say it again... This is exactly why we should sentence all gang members to death. Prison doesn't stop them from operating. Prison doesn't stop them from recruiting child soldiers.
Just hope none of the exemplary citizens have taken time out of their very busy lives to vote.
These POS’s that have been arrested, if their cases should ever rest in the hands of our district attorney, we’ll be lucky if she even decides to prosecute any of them. And if she does, the most they’ll probably get is probation. After all, the most important thing with her and the progressives is not deterrence and punishment, but some twisted experimental progressive liberal Seattle type ideal that these people can still be redeemable and contribute to society if they’re only treated nicely.