Criminal Cases

Chicago Gang Member Headed to Federal Prison For 50 Years

Chicago Gang Member Headed to Federal Prison For 50 Years

A Chicago gang member has been sentenced to 50 years in federal prison for violent crimes, including murder. 

According to an official release from the IRS,  David Arrington, a member of the Wicked Town faction of the Traveling Vice Lords street gang, murdered two people, shot and wounded two others, and served as the getaway driver when his fellow gang members committed both murder and attempted murder. Last year, Arrington, a Chicago resident, entered a guilty plea to a federal racketeering conspiracy charge last year. 

His sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Durkin.

GettyImages-1201604757_resized_gang
Credit: Oleg Elkov/Getty Images

Arrington is one of 13 defendants convicted over the course of a multi-year investigation into the gang's widely varied criminal activities. Per the IRS, the lengthy investigation "resulted in the seizures of more than 45 firearms, approximately 1,000 rounds of ammunition, approximately 17 kilograms of cocaine, approximately seven kilograms of heroin, and approximately 100 grams of crack cocaine."

In 2021, CBS News named all 13 of the defendants in this ongoing case, including their ages at the time. They are:

  • Donald Lee, 39
  • Deshawn Morgan, 39
  • Marquel Russell, 44
  • Darius Murphy, 22
  • Torance Benson, 29
  • Davion Russell, 21
  • Deshon George, 28
  • Nashon Johnson, 42
  • Dante Dockett, 43
  • Demond Brown, 28
  • Victor Turner, 30
  • Willie Gardley, 27
  • David Arrington, 26

Additionally, federal authorities determined that Wicked Town gang members engaged in criminal conduct of all manner, including Arrington's two murders, at least 17 other murders, and "numerous" attempted murders. Furthermore, Wicked Town gang members not only engaged in violent crime but regularly boasted about their activities on social media, apparently primarily in an effort to taunt rival gangs. 

Wicked Town mainly operates in Chicago's Austin neighborhood, where the gang has kept "trap houses" to store firearms and drugs, including stashes of heroin and cocaine.

GettyImages-pha055000018_resized_gang
Credit: Frederic Cirou/Getty Images

The probe into the gang's activities is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. This independent component of the Department of Justice was established in 1982, and exists to disrupt and dismantle organized crime throughout the United States.

The OCDETF involves cooperation from a number of law enforcement agencies, including the IRS Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI).

What do you think about this case?

You Might Also Enjoy:

Feature Image Credit: Sean Gladwell/Getty Images

share this post
Search for matches...
Rebekah Barton

Rebekah Barton

Rebekah's search engine optimization career began completely by accident as a college student. Over the course of her career so far, she has "grown up" with the SEO industry, from writing content while juggling classes to managing her own teams of writers and overseeing SEO strategy in subsequent roles. She is excited to bring her passion for high-quality content to CountingWorks, Inc.

Recommended Professionals

In the face of economic uncertainty, TaxBuzz is the industry's most up-to-date tax information.

Join 60,000 who get our weekly newsletter. No spam.

Need help selecting a firm?

Use our specialized search engine and get matched to the best accounting and tax firm for your needs.

Related Posts

Latest Posts