Police have arrested 30 alleged Bloods gang members in early morning raids across the Atlanta area, charging them with a total of 169 felonies. The arrests followed a ten-month investigation into two separate gang sets: the Ape (All Profit and Extortion) Gang and the Bounty Hunter Bloods.
Those arrested face charges including murder, racketeering, drug offences, and showing gang signs on Facebook. Cobb District Attorney Vic Reynolds said the investigation began with two murders and uncovered a pattern of gang-motivated criminal activity. 'Both of these gangs without any equivocation are violent gangs,' he said. 'Law enforcement has managed today to take a number of violent offenders off the street.'
The murder charges relate to the deaths of Ny'Jaia Glanton, 22, in December 2017 and Tyon Gorman, 19, in April 2018. Misheon Tysam Gadson, 21, known as 'Hitter Ape', and Dealma Marie Washington, 41, AKA 'Lady Muscle', were indicted over Glanton's death. Je'Marquise Wright, 18, known as 'Pac Man', was indicted over Gorman's death.
Police arrested 20 suspects at six locations, with at least 13 already in jail. Chief Mike Register said: 'They're dangerous, not because of what they've done one time, but what they continue to do. They're repeat offenders.' The operation was led by Cobb County Police Department with assistance from the FBI, Marietta Police, and Clayton County Police.
Members of the Bounty Hunters face 120 charges against 20 individuals, while 10 suspected members of the APE Gang face 49 charges. All 30 face gang charges and violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Some parents disputed the allegations, with Clara Jones saying her son Randy Jones, 19, charged with racketeering, 'is not a gang member'.
