DALLAS (1080 KRLD)- More of the defendants arrested in last week's crime sweep through the Fair Park area have made it to court.
Federal authorities say nine members of the “Hogg Life” gang, an offshoot of the Los Angeles-based Crips gang, were among those who were arrested Friday as task force members swarmed several neighborhoods to the south and west of the fairgrounds.
Fresh court documents show a prong of the case is rooted in Amarillo, where “cooperating defendant” has been working with police to put the Hogg Life gang in the crosshairs.
Last week it was disclosed that some rival gangs were working together for the sake of profit. The new documents suggest a deeper level of cooperation.
“It’s pretty clear that in gang life that, though there are rivalries, their like of money is greater than their dislike of each other,” said Matthew Orwig, a former U.S. Attorney who is now a criminal defense attorney. “When it’s necessary they will be practical and opportunistic and cooperated with each other to make sure that the deal is done and that they avoid law enforcement.”
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Part of the cooperation has an old-school feel, as the gangs used the U.S. Postal Service and Federal Express to deliver drugs from a California-based supplier who branded his drugs with the name “Dank of America” the court papers say.
While advances in detection made those two forms of delivery obsolete in the 1990s, the pandemic may have given gangs cover through the volume of packages that have been shipped over the last year.
“It looks like with the pandemic and the advent of Amazon and other of these online carriers, I guess they figure they can take advantage of the volume and not get caught.” said Richard Roper, former U.S. Attorney for Dallas. “They can only inspect so many packages. But, of course, you only need one really good canine that can sniff out drugs to go through a lot of packages at one time. So I guess that’s the answer.”
An undercover agent posing as a buyer initiated Snapchat conversations with local Amarillo dealers, with videos and pictures showing the growing, packaging and marketing of drugs such as marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms and other THC products, prosecutors say. The local dealers used their own brand name, “No Boof,” according to the documents.
The gangs used their profits to life the high-life, the documents say, treating themselves to luxury travel, and dining, exotic vehicles, designer clothing and jewelry and adult entertainment, says a news release from the Dallas U.S. Attorney’s office.
More than 400 members of a task force that included the FBI, DEA, BATF and Dallas Police conducted the raid in the pre-dawn hours last Friday.
The task force has not said how many were arrested, only that information would be released over the next several weeks.
Charges announced today include:
Demarcus Dave Grabert, aka “Rackz,” 24, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, two counts of distribution of Psilocin, one count of distribution of marijuana, and one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
Grant Leonard Glover, 33 charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, one count of distribution of psilocin, and one count of distribution of marijuana.
Tremaine Devante Watson, aka “T-watt,” 29, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, one count of distribution of psilocin, one count of distribution of marijuana, and one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
Ashton Andrew Burns, aka “Trayo,” 31, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Doshon Lee Johnson, aka “Nolia Boy Tat,” 24, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of distribution of psilocin
Andre Shemar Lewis, aka “30,” 25, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana
Chandler Geveon Smith, aka “Lil Chan,” 23, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
Davona Traveil Carter, 28, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana
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