ST. LOUIS (KMOX)--A gang of 15 or more members of the so-called "55 Boys" have been sentenced for drug and gun crimes.
"St. Louis is safer today because of the hard work of Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department detectives and our federal agents and partners," said Police Chief Robert Tracy. "St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and its federal partners did everything possible to dismantle the 55 boys, a known violent street gang responsible for criminal activity."
27-year-old Rapper Devante "Jizzlebuckz" Lindsey was sentenced to 12 years in prison. 28-year-old Andre Luh Half" Pearson was sentenced to 11 years in prison. Both were leaders of the 55 Boyz–a gang and drug trafficking organization, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Law enforcement says the 55 Boyz were responsible for a "significant amount of the fentanyl" being sold in south St. Louis. Lindsey and Pearson helped form the 55 Boyz out of other gangs, including YPG (Young Project Goons), "T K O" (Team Knockout), The Strip, Pressure Gang, and CAVE. Lindsey was the face of the gang, rapping about the gang, fentanyl distribution, and other illegal activity, according to court documents.
The final two defendants in the initial phase of the case were sentenced Monday. Five others were indicted individually, and all five have pleaded guilty. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives had independently been investigating another matter and arrested someone with drugs and guns. Both agencies began working in concert, and IRS - Criminal Investigations later joined to target money laundering and trace the illegal proceeds of drug sales.
The co-conspirators used phones to arrange drug sales, even sending out text messages advertising their illegal product.
Investigators made a series of court-approved searches of various locations in the St. Louis area, eventually seizing about two dozen guns, more than 120,000 in cash, thousands of capsules containing fentanyl, and two vehicles. Two homes purchased with rug proceeds were forfeited, as well as the cash value of a third home. Diamond jewelry was also seized, including a 55 Boyz chain necklace with roughly 2500 tiny diamonds.
The others who have been convicted and sentenced along with Lindsey and Pearson are Edward "Edot" Hopkins, 22, Tony Evans, 35, Araven Johnson, 29, Douglas Simpson, 35, Jeffrey Moore, 26, Shawn Liggins, 22, Omar Lewis, 23, Willie Lindsey, 44, Jamond "Huncho" Dismukes, 24, Travon Weatherspoon, 34, Birtha Lindsey, 43, Erik Simmons, 30, and Armani Tatum, 33.
Separately, Martez Lindsey, 32, Jaheim, "DaeDae" Young, 23, Jaron Tate, 24, and Jhonetta Phillips, 33, have pleaded guilty and have been sentenced on drug or gun charges. Ja'Vonne Lindsey, 20, awaits sentencing.
When asked at a press conference if there are more "55 Boyz" gang members out there, Chief Tracy said, "Where the investigation takes us, who's associated with these crimes, and any investigation starts to grow, we will follow those leads and make sure we hold those people accountable. But there are some more out there."