Detroit One Collaboration Leads to Racketeering Indictment of Violent Gang Members from Detroit’s Westside

The collaboration of local, state, and federal law enforcement under the Detroit One program continued its pursuit of violent street gangs with an indictment of fourteen members and associates of the Playboy Gangster Crips street gang today, Acting United States Attorney Daniel L. Lemisch announced.

Lemisch was joined in the announcement by Acting Special Agent in Charge Tom Chittum, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Chief James Craig, Detroit Police Department.

According to an indictment unsealed today, the gang operates in northwest Detroit, specifically the area in and around Seven Mile Road between Lahser and Evergreen. The indictment alleges that the gang engaged in various racketeering activity including acts involving murder, armed robbery, carjacking, and drug trafficking. Playboy Gangster Crip members utilized various vacant houses in this area, including two on 19000 block of Trinity Street, and a local gas station to conduct many of their illegal narcotics sales. The indictment also details how these Crip members used social media to sell illegally firearms and drugs.

Under the Detroit One Initiative, and through the lead efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms’ (ATF) Comprehensive Violence Reduction Program and Detroit Police Department Gang Intelligence Unit, investigators identified this gang and its activities as they were investigating two other gangs recently prosecuted for racketeering conspiracy and other violent acts in federal court – the Bounty Hunter

Bloods and Rollin’ 60 Crips. Specifically, the Playboy Gangster Crips are alleged to be rivals to both these gangs.

Charged today are:

    Jvon Clements, a/k/a "Toon," 25, of Detroit, with RICO conspiracy; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense; and felon in possession of ammunition;

    Winston Hill, a/k/a "Shady Blue," 23, of Sterling Heighs, with RICO conspiracy;

    Dawon Taylor, a/k/a "J-9," 21, of Detroit, with RICO conspiracy;

    Ron Benson Jr., a/k/a "Duke," 23, of Detroit, with RICO conspiracy;

    Devante Crockett, a/k/a "TBK," 22, of Detroit, with RICO conspiracy;

    Deshaun Tisdale, a/k/a "Havoc," 23, of Detroit, with RICO conspiracy;

    Davon Moultrie, a/k/a "Blue," 21, of Detroit with RICO conspiracy;

    Deondre Casey, a/k/a "Trouble," of Detroit, with RICO conspiracy;

    Andre Tinsley, a/k/a "Danger," 23, of Detroit, with RICO conspiracy;

    Dangelo Davis, a/k/a "Black," "Sosa," 27, of Detroit, with RICO conspiracy;

    Recharl Boynton, a/k/a "Bear," "Cee," 26, of Detroit, with RICO conspiracy;

    Anthony Marshall, a/k/a "Hitman," 20, of Detroit, with RICO conspiracy;

    Nathaniel Brown, a/k/a "Nino," 23, of Detroit, with RICO conspiracy; and

    Darryl Grizzard, a/k/a "Deezy," 27, of Detroit, with RICO conspiracy and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

Since its inception in 2013, Detroit One has been an effort by local, state, and federal law enforcement to work collaboratively in order to maximize its ability to identify and arrest the persons and groups initiating the violence in Detroit. These charges are just some of the tangible and significant results of this joint effort. This indictment is the latest in a string of indictments or informations from the United States Attorney’s Office and Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office over the last four years involving violent street gangs in the city of Detroit.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The burden is on the government to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.