ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Nine members and associates of the violent Eastside Rollin’ 20s Crips (RTC) street gang face federal charges including murder, armed robbery, large-scale fentanyl distribution, and firearms offenses following the unsealing of a twelve-count indictment today.
The indictment, filed in the Eastern District of Virginia, alleges a sweeping racketeering conspiracy spanning multiple states. Prosecutors accuse RTC, a subset of the national Crips gang, of orchestrating a campaign of violence and drug trafficking to further its criminal enterprise.
Alleged Crimes Span East Coast:
* Murder: The June 2022 killing of an individual in Alexandria, Virginia.
* Attempted Murders: A July 2021 shooting attempt targeting several people in Washington, D.C., and a January 2021 attempt on two individuals in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
* Violent Robbery: An August 2021 armed robbery in Hollywood, Florida, where a victim was pistol-whipped.
* Fentanyl Trafficking: Conspiring to distribute multi-kilogram quantities of deadly pressed fentanyl pills to fund gang activities.
* Firearms Offenses: Illegal use and “straw purchasing” of firearms.
* Recruiting Minors: Actively recruiting children to commit violent acts and traffic drugs on behalf of the gang.
“The offenses alleged in this indictment represent the spectrum of danger presented by nationwide criminal enterprises,” stated U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Any of these elements alone… is enough to destroy communities and lives, and these organizations employ them without compunction.”
Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, emphasized the gang’s brutality: “As alleged, RTC members unleashed a wave of violence across three states and the District of Columbia… Their commission of brutal, indiscriminate acts over perceived slights on social media reflects a particularly dangerous form of gang activity.”
If found guilty, defendants could be sentenced to life in prison or even face the death penalty for the murder charge. Additional charges such as racketeering conspiracy, fentanyl distribution conspiracy, and associated firearms offenses also come with maximum penalties that could reach life imprisonment. Ultimately, a federal judge will decide the sentences.
The investigation involved a massive collaborative effort led by the DEA, ATF, Virginia State Police, and Arlington County Police, with assistance from numerous other federal, state, and local agencies across multiple jurisdictions.
“This case demonstrates that drug trafficking, firearms, and violence are undeniably connected,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Ibrar Mian. ATF Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood added, “There just isn’t a place for criminal behavior in our neighborhoods.”
The case is being prosecuted as part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide DOJ initiative targeting transnational criminal organizations, illegal immigration, and violent crime.
