Feds Announce Indictment Of Alleged 'NFL' Gang Members Linked To Murders, Drug Overdoses
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Federal prosecutors unveiled a 33 count indictment Thursday against a west Baltimore gang. Officials say members terrorized their Edmondson Village neighborhood for years.
"Today, I am announcing federal charges against a gang responsible for murder, murder for hire, trafficking and deadly narcotics," U.S. Attorney Robert Hur said.
Sixteen people were charged in the fourth superseding indictment:
- Gregory Butler, a/k/a Gotti, Sags and Little Dick, age 28, of Baltimore;
- Darran Malik Butler, a/k/a Lik, age 21, of Baltimore;
- Bobby Cannon, a/k/a Freaky, age 23 of Baltimore;
- Darean Cook, age 27, of Baltimore;
- Juawan Davis, a/k/a Fat Daddy, age 24, of Baltimore;
- Edward Buddy Hall, a/k/a Gwar, age 54, of Baltimore;
- Timothy Legard, age 29, of Bunker Hill, West Virginia;
- Davon Owens, a/k/a Gusto, age 31, of Baltimore;
- D'Andre Preston, a/k/a Whiteboy and Whites, age 23, of Baltimore;
- Desmond Ringgold, a/k/a Worm and Fool, age 28, of Baltimore;
- James Henry Roberts, a/k/a Bub, age 29, of Baltimore;
- Tirrel Saunders, a/k/a Pretty, age 32, of Baltimore;
- Nathan Stanley, age 48, of Rixeyville, Virginia;
- Jamie Wagoner, age 37, of Stephens City, Virginia
- Laura Warner, age 36, of Berkeley County; and
- Emanuel Watkins, age 62, of Baltimore.
The group, known as the "NFL" gang, allegedly operated a drug distribution ring for years. Prosecutors say they're tied to at least four murders and as many as five overdose deaths. Investigators believe they also used witness intimidation on social media to scare people into silence.
"Gang members threatened and tampered with witnesses, including by outing them on social media," Hur said.
"NFL" stands for "Normandy, Franklin and Loudon", streets in the Edmondson Village neighborhood. The gang's age group ranges from 21 to 62.
A woman who has lived in the area for decades spoke to WJZ.
"We had murders right across from the church, there are drug gangs hanging out there at the little corner store," she said. "It just keeps happening over and over."
After a string of violent days in Baltimore where dozens of people were shot and several died, city leaders used this large scale indictment as a warning to others who are fueling crime.
"Let me be very clear, this type of behavior will not be tolerated," Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison said.
This was the fourth superseding indictment, so more charges could come later.
