A twelve-count indictment unsealed in the Eastern District of Virginia charges nine members of the Eastside Rollin’ 20s Crips (RTC) gang with a range of violent and drug-related crimes, officials announced Wednesday.
The charges include racketeering and drug conspiracies, murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, identity fraud, and illegal firearm purchases.
According to the indictment, RTC is a subset of the national Crips gang. Members are accused of committing multiple violent acts, including:
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A June 2022 murder in Alexandria, Virginia
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A July 2021 attempted shooting in Washington, D.C.
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An August 2021 armed robbery and pistol-whipping in Hollywood, Florida
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A January 2021 attempted double murder in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Prosecutors allege the gang financed its operations by trafficking large quantities of pressed fentanyl pills and recruiting minors to carry out acts of violence and drug distribution.
“As alleged, RTC members unleashed a wave of violence across three states and the District of Columbia, extending down the East Coast to Florida,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Their commission of brutal, indiscriminate acts over perceived slights on social media reflects a particularly dangerous form of gang activity. The Criminal Division remains firmly committed to prosecuting menacing gangs and ensuring the safety of our communities.”