Lady Justice
Minneapolis, MN – A federal jury in Minneapolis has found William Johnson, 35, guilty for his involvement in a gang-related murder and his affiliation with a violent street gang called the Highs. Johnson is facing a potential life sentence, with the date for sentencing still to be determined.
Court documents reveal that Johnson and other members of the Highs were engaged in a long-standing conflict with the rival Lows gang, which held control over the area south of West Broadway Avenue. On August 7, 2021, a member of the Highs was shot and killed at a gas station, a well-known gathering spot for gang members, by someone from the Lows. The next day, Johnson and other Highs members went to a memorial at the gas station, where guns were handed out and members were urged to seek revenge.
Later that same day, Johnson drove his Highs associates to Skyline Market, a favored location for the Lows, and took part in a shooting that resulted in the death of a man who was mistakenly thought to be a member of the rival gang. Johnson also aided two juveniles in a stolen Porsche who fired more shots at the victim in an alley.
“This conviction reflects sustained effort by investigators and prosecutors,” said Special Agent in Charge Travis Riddle of the ATF St. Paul Field Division. “These cases do not end with a single verdict. ATF and our partners will continue holding every individual involved in this RICO conspiracy accountable.”
Federal officials highlighted that the Highs gang was involved in homicides, thefts, assaults, and gun-related crimes to assert dominance over their area. The investigation into the gang’s illegal operations included the IRS Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and various local law enforcement agencies.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division stated, “The Department’s firm resolve to stop violent crime in Minneapolis and around the country remains a top priority. We will continue to obtain justice for crime victims to halt senseless gang killings wherever they occur.”
The federal probe has resulted in the conviction of 42 members or associates of the Highs for federal offenses. Co-defendants Dantrell Johnson and Gregory Hamilton have both been sentenced to life imprisonment, whereas Keon Pruitt has been handed a sentence of more than 37 years. Many other members of the Highs have also received sentences that surpass ten years.
