A massive multi-agency crackdown involving more than 450 federal and local law enforcement officers led to the arrest of over 20 members of the violent Kiccdoe gang in Texas, the FBI has announced.
According to Arlington police and the FBI, the group is tied to a long list of brutal crimes that have terrorized North Texas communities for years.
FBI Dallas Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jeremy Wright said search warrants were executed across Arlington, Dallas, Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, Mansfield, and Forney, FOX 4 reported.
Authorities also recovered weapons, drugs, and cash during the operation.
In total, 21 known Kiccdoe members were taken into custody and charged with RICO conspiracy, a sweeping federal charge used to dismantle organized criminal networks.
Several suspects also face additional counts, including weapons offenses, drug trafficking, murder, and sexual assault.
“Charges including murder, drug trafficking, assault, burglary, even aggravated sexual assault of a child,” FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on X.
“This was a multi-agency effort of over 450 local and federal law enforcement personnel to investigate, go in and clean up the violence in Arlington.”
If convicted on the federal charges alone, many of the suspects face 20 years to life in prison.
Those arrested include:
- Blake Scott, 22;
- Bradly McArthur, 21;
- Cortez Atkinson, 18;
- Datraven Warren, 18;
- DeMarco Westmoreland, 19;
- Dillen Opare, 20;
- Raphael Opare, 19;
- Isaiah Wiley, 21;
- Jakyla Totten, 19;
- Jamarion Manogin, 20;
- Jaylen Franklin, 22;
- Joseph Hill, 18;
- Kyron Oates, 22;
- Michael Mensah, 18;
- Lamarion Austin, 21;
- Marcus Shaw, 20;
- Sadedrick Wilson, 21;
- Vernell Woods, 19;
- Sir James Mack Williams, 21;
- Chauncey Ross, 22;
- Keyshawn Burton, 20
Wright cautioned the public not to underestimate the suspects because of their age.
“Do not let the ages distract from the havoc that they’ve inflicted upon our community,” he said.
“These gang members allegedly use violence and intimidation to protect our territory and profits.
“They instilled fear in their victims and took revenge on their rivals.”
He added that Kiccdoe members are allegedly responsible for drive-by shootings, attempted murders, homicides, drug trafficking, weapons crimes, armed robbery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, resisting arrest, assaulting a public servant, and aggravated sexual assault of a child.
Arlington Police Chief Al Jones said the gang has been a driving force behind the city’s violent crime.
He requested FBI assistance last year as violence escalated.
“Our violent crime unit and our gang specialists have investigated numerous cases involving this group and have been closely monitoring their activity since January of 2022,” Jones said.
“We have documented 180 criminal incidents involving Kiccdoe members.
“This includes aggravated assaults, robberies, burglaries, shootings, and drug offenses.
“That’s just within the city of Arlington.”
Jones said the arrests mark a major step toward restoring safety.
“Our city is safer with these suspects off the street, and I hope our community can rest a little easier tonight knowing that.
“I also hope that we have proven to them that we will not tolerate violence in our community, and we’re going to do everything in our power to stop it.”
Officials say the joint operation between Arlington police and the FBI will continue.
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