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Four people convicted in gang-related case in southern Illinois

Gavel, scale and law books in the bookshelf
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Incidents included shootings, stabbings, and a drug conspiracy

Four gang leaders have been convicted of racketeering conspiracy and murder in federal court.

The U-S Attorney for southern Illinois reports the four leaders of the Gangster Disciples were convicted in East Saint Louis Monday.

Court documents show 53-year old Warren Griffin - also known as "GG" or "Big Head" - from Glenwood Illinois, Sean Clemon - also known as "Pops" - and Dominique Maxwell - also known as "D-Mac" and "Monster" - from Cape Girardeau, and Frank Smith - also known as "Little Frank" and "Red Beard" - from Naperville, Illinois, were all charged in a conspiracy involving drugs, witness tampering, and multiple murders.

Prosecutors say in May of 2018, Griffin drove to the south side of Chicago with another gang member to murder a former gang member, because he opposed their status.

In April of 2018, Clemon and Maxwell followed orders from Smith to shoot three people in Bridgeton Missouri, as a part of a leadership dispute in the gang.

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The two incidents were a part of a string of violence court records show the four were involved in - including a stabbing in East Saint Louis, a shooting in Cape Girardeau, and a scheme to smuggle "K2" - a synthetic opioid - into Missouri prisons.

All four face a mandatory life sentence on RICO and murder charges. Smith, Maxwell, and Clemon were also convicted on racketeering and firearms charges, and Griffen was convicted of racketeering conspiracy and firearms charges.

A fifth defendant - Anthony Dobbins - pleaded guilty in the case back in January.

Jennifer Fuller joined the WSIU family at a very young age- as both a viewer and a listener! Growing up in Carterville, Jennifer enjoyed WSIU's PBS programming as a child and young adult, and then became even more involved when she attended SIUC and worked for both the radio and TV stations as a student.
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