CHARLOTTE, N.C. – In what is being called one of the largest indictments ever handed down in the Western District of North Carolina, 83 alleged members of the United Blood Nation gang were charged with a slew of crimes Thursday.
The alleged crimes included racketeering and murder, as well as dealing drugs and guns. According to the 163-page indictment, the criminal activity started in or around September 2009 and continued through 2017. A number of those indicted are accused of bank fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
According to the United States Attorney's Office, more than 600 federal, state and local law enforcement officers executed the arrest warrants Thursday morning in Charlotte, Cleveland County, and eastern North Carolina. Arrests were also made in Florida, South Carolina, New York, and Virginia. Of the 83 defendants, 10 are not currently in police custody.
83 reputed members of United Blood Nation charged in federal indictment. @wcnc pic.twitter.com/XdIsIN5wIB
— RadBerky (@RBerkywcnc) May 18, 2017
More Suspects arrive at Federal courthouse for 1st appearance. #wcnc pic.twitter.com/tXgB9UoEpe
— Richard DeVayne (@devayneTV) May 18, 2017
Homeland Security officers and US Marshals ringed the courthouse in a show of force few had ever seen before Thursday morning. One by one, vans arrived to drop off and pick up the dozens of reputed gang members.
MUGHOTS: Blood gang members indicted
FBI agents and local police staged raids across the Charlotte area Thursday morning at dawn, arrested most of the suspects without serious incidents. Charges against the suspects included conspiring with other Blood gang members to commit robberies, deal drugs, as well as multiple gun charges.
All of the suspects arrested are being held without bond until individual bond hearings next week, officials said.
Mobile users: To view the entire indictment, click here.
