The Chicago Syndicate
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Thursday, August 24, 2017

Carlo Gambino was born on this day in 1902

Full Name: Carlo Gambino
Nationality: Italian-American

Profession: Gangster
Why Famous: Known for being boss of the Gambino crime family, which is still named after him today.

Born: August 24, 1902
Birthplace: Palermo, Sicily, Italy

Died: October 15, 1976 (aged 74)
Cause of Death: Heart attack

Carlo Gambino: King of the Mafia.

On This Day in Crime History in 1939

After being convicted of violating federal anti-trust laws, in the rabbit-skin fur industry, in New York, in 1936, the leader of "Murder, Incorporated", Louis "Lepke" Buchalter, disappeared.

After an extensive man-hunt over the next few years, he finally gave himself up to columnist Walter Winchell. Winchell then turned him over to FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, in front of a Manhattan Hotel.

It was later revealed that Buchalter had been hiding in New York City during his entire time as a fugitive.

Murder Inc.: The Story of The Syndicate Killing Machine


Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Special Agent in Charge for @FBIChicago Announces Retirement

Michael J. Anderson, special agent in charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), announced his retirement, effective September 30, 2017, culminating twenty-two years of service with the FBI.

Mr. Anderson has led the FBI Chicago Field Office since October 2015. Among his many efforts, Mr. Anderson increased the division’s resources to investigate violent crime with local law enforcement agencies, to include adding an additional street gang squad and a homicide squad to the criminal program. Mr. Anderson also enhanced the resources to support the division’s community outreach program, established a stand-alone civil rights squad, and significantly increased diversity recruiting efforts; recognizing the better we know our communities, the better we can protect them.

Mr. Anderson entered on duty as a special agent with the FBI in July 1995. He reported to the Miami Division, where he investigated public corruption, including a juror bribery case involving a continuing criminal enterprise that imported more than 75 tons of cocaine into the Miami metropolitan area.

In 2001, Mr. Anderson reported to the Washington Field Office to supervise investigations into public corruption, government fraud, and civil rights. During his tenure, he supervised the investigation of super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff and Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson.

In 2006, Mr. Anderson returned to the Public Corruption Unit at FBIHQ as its chief. In this role, he oversaw the Hurricane Fraud Initiative to address Katrina-related public corruption and government fraud, and he launched the International Contract Corruption Initiative (ICCI) targeting Iraq reconstruction-related fraud and corruption. The ICCI eventually evolved into a permanent unit in the Criminal Investigative Division.

In July 2012, Mr. Anderson reported to the New Orleans Division as the special agent in charge. While overseeing all FBI operations for the state of Louisiana, he supervised notable successful investigations involving the Deepwater Horizon environmental disaster, former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, and the Harvey Hustlers—a notorious neighborhood-based violent gang.

Looking back on his career, Mr. Anderson said, “It was truly an honor and a privilege to lead the tirelessly dedicated and professional men and women of the Chicago Division, a flagship office of the FBI in both national security and criminal law enforcement.”

Mr. Anderson has accepted a corporate security position with Arizona Public Service (APS) in Phoenix, Arizona.

Monday, August 21, 2017

2 Members of Violent “Hobos” Street Gang Sentenced to Life in Prison on Federal Racketeering Charges

Two Chicago men became the fifth and sixth members of the violent “Hobos” street gang to be sentenced to life in prison on federal racketeering charges.

The Hobos were a criminal enterprise in Chicago that dealt narcotics, robbed from other drug dealers, retaliated against rival gangs, and violently prevented witnesses from cooperating with law enforcement. For nearly a decade the gang committed murders, attempted murders and robberies, primarily on the city’s south and west sides. All ten Hobos charged in the federal investigation were either convicted by a jury or pleaded guilty prior to trial. An eleventh Hobo died shortly before charges were brought.

DERRICK VAUGHN and WILLIAM FORD became the fifth and sixth members of the gang to receive life sentences. Three others previously received sentences ranging from seven to 40 years in prison. One defendant, RODNEY JONES, cooperated with the government and will be sentenced later this year.

The sentencings were announced by Joel R. Levin, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Michael J. Anderson, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Eddie T. Johnson, Chicago Police Superintendent; and Gabriel L. Grchan, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division. The Illinois State Police, Illinois Department of Corrections and Illinois Secretary of State Police provided assistance.

Federal, state and local authorities uncovered the gang activity through an extensive investigation conducted by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) and the FBI Chicago Safe Streets Gang Unit. The Task Forces have been responsible for disrupting some of the Chicago area’s most sophisticated drug-trafficking organizations.

Evidence at the 15-week trial last year revealed that the Hobos were comprised of former members of other gangs that were once rivals. The Hobos allied together in order to more profitably distribute narcotics and establish control of territories on the south and west sides of Chicago. The Hobos were violent and ruthless, often using high-powered guns and assault rifles. From 2004 to 2013 the Hobos engaged in narcotics trafficking, home invasions and armed robberies, often of rival drug dealers. Members of the gang shared the wealth with each other, buying luxury items and taking trips to Hawaii and Florida.

In addition to the sentencings of Ford and Derrick Vaughn, U.S. District Judge John J. Tharp Jr. previously sentenced four other Hobos to life in prison on racketeering conspiracy charges: ARNOLD COUNCIL, PARIS POE, GABRIEL BUSH, and BYRON BROWN, all of Chicago. Judge Tharp previously sentenced GREGORY CHESTER, of Richton Park, to 40 years in prison; STANLEY VAUGHN, of Chicago, to 20 years in prison, which must be served consecutively to a 23-year prison term previously imposed in a separate case; and Gregory Chester’s cousin, GARY CHESTER, of Chicago, to seven years in prison.

The sentencing for Jones, of Chicago, is set for Nov. 20, 2017, before Judge Tharp. The eleventh Hobo, Byron Brown’s twin brother, BRANDON BROWN, was identified in the indictment as a coconspirator, but he died before the charges were brought.

Although the Hobos lacked a traditional hierarchy, Gregory Chester was recognized as its leader. When the Hobos learned that individuals were cooperating with law enforcement, the gang resorted to murder in order to prevent it. In 2006 Council and Poe fatally shot Wilbert Moore, whose cooperation with Chicago Police had led to state gun and drug charges against Council. In 2013 Poe shot and killed Keith Daniels after Daniels cooperated with the federal investigation that led to these convictions.

Thursday, August 17, 2017

12 Members of the Conservative Vice Lords/Concrete Cartel Street Gang Indicted on Federal RICO Charges

Twelve members of the Conservative Vice Lords/Concrete Cartel Street Gang, a nation-wide street gang with its origin and home base in Chicago, Illinois, were charged in a federal indictment for Racketeering (RICO), business and pharmacy robberies and drug trafficking. Lawrence J. Laurenzi, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the indictment.

The indictment alleges that the Concrete Cartel and its members operate mainly in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee and North Mississippi. Its leadership consists of a regional/southern leader, a state-wide leader, a city-wide leader and community/division leaders in the areas of (Whitehaven, Orange Mound, East Memphis, South Memphis and North Memphis). Within the organization/street gang, there are different areas of responsibilities or roles: Ministers of Command, Chief Violators, Chiefs of Security, Chief Enforcers, Ministers of Literature, Lieutenants and foot soldiers. Members rise to these positions through acts of violence, including but not limited to: shootings, robbing, and drug and human trafficking. The Concrete Cartel encourages robbing businesses, mainly pharmacies, to take opioids and other Schedule II controlled substances to enrich themselves and the membership.

Davante Turner, William Pinkney, Markease Alexander, Nernest Nesby, Lashawn Shannon, Tondwin Lewis, Arterrious McCalleum, Travon Jones, Rickey Bell, Ariq Eric Rayford, Clemeko Dewayne Starks Jr., and Darnell Trevon Jordan are charged with committing multiple acts of business robberies while using firearms. The indictment alleges that on occasion the Concrete Cartel robbed pharmacies and would later distribute and sell the stolen opioids or controlled substances on the streets of Memphis and elsewhere. Along with the RICO charge, the defendants were also indicted for their participation in the following business robberies, using firearms:


  • On July 18, 2015, Davante Turner and others robbed CVS Pharmacy at 786 N. Germantown Parkway, Memphis, Tennessee. During this robbery, Turner and others took the following drugs: Oxycodone, Fentanyl and Methylphenidate.
  • On February 15, 2016, Ariq Eric Rayford, Clemeko Dewaye Starks Jr., and Darnell Trevon Jordan robbed Walgreens Pharmacy at 4653 Elvis Presley Blvd., Memphis, Tennessee. Rayford, Starks Jr., and Jordan attempted to take Roxicodone drugs.
  • On April 30, 2016, Travon Jones, Nernest Nesby and Arterrious McCalleum robbed Mojo Vapors at 6522 Quince, Memphis, Tennessee; Exxon Mobil Gas Station at 6021 Mt. Moriah, Memphis, Tennessee; and CVS Pharmacy at 6620 Winchester Road, Memphis, Tennessee.
  • On May 1, 2016, Travon Jones, Nernest Nesby and Arterrious McCalleum robbed Circle K at 7195 Winchester Road, Memphis, Tennessee, and Exxon at 6455 E. Shelby Drive, Memphis, Tennessee.
  • On July 22, 2016, Markease Alexander and others robbed CVS Pharmacy at 786 N. Germantown Parkway, Memphis, Tennessee. During the robbery, Alexander and others took the following drugs: Oxycodone, Oxymorphine and Oxymorphone. Lashawn Shannon distributed the drugs for Alexander and others.
  • On November 1, 2016, Markease Alexander, Ricky Bell and others robbed CVS Pharmacy at 2115 Union Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee. Bell, Alexander and others took the following drugs: Oxycodone and Acetaminophen, Dextroamphetamine, Oxycodone, Methylphenidate, Lisdexamfetamine and Oxycodone Hydrochloride.
  • On July 5, 2017, Davante Levert Turner, Tondwin Lewis and William Pinkney robbed CVS Pharmacy at 6620 Winchester Road, Memphis, Tennessee. Turner, Lewis and Pinkney attempted to take Roxicodone drugs.


The indictment is the result of an extensive investigation which began in 2015 by federal, state and local law enforcement officials into the Conservative Vice Lords/Concrete Cartel. This investigation entailed the recovery or seizures of thousands of opioids or controlled substances before the defendants distributed the drugs on the streets.

Lawrence J. Laurenzi, Acting U.S. Attorney, Western District of Tennessee, said, "Today’s indictment serves to demonstrate the commitment of our office and our law enforcement partners to curtail the onslaught of business robberies and to eradicate the violent criminal element from the Western District of Tennessee. As we have previously stated, gang activity will not be tolerated."

"Gangs will not run our city. We will continue to weed out the criminal elements that surround gang motivated crimes, and we will fully support our state and federal partners in prosecuting criminals to the fullest extent of the law" said Michael Rallings, Director, Memphis Police Department.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Safe Street Task Force and the Multi-Agency Gang Unit of the Memphis Police Department and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Whitmore is prosecuting this case on the government’s behalf.

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