14 Alleged Black Guerilla Family Members Charged In Racketeering Scheme

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The FBI has gone after what it says is the biggest and most violent gang in Baltimore. Wednesday, 14 members of the Black Guerilla Family have been charged with a string of crimes in the city.

Alex DeMetrick has more on the case against the BGF.

The indictment was filed Wednesday afternoon in federal court. Among the 14 Black Guerilla Family members charged, one name stands out.

"The case we're bringing today involves the lead defendant by the name of Michael Gray, who was allegedly the city-wide leader of the BGF gang," said U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein.

And according to the U.S. attorney, 13 BGF members carried out murder, attempted murder, racketeering, including extortion and drug trafficking, allegedly under Gray's command.

"Violence, drug trafficking, murder---that's what they do. That's what we listened to for months over intercepts," said FBI Special Agent in charge Stephen Vogt.

The FBI investigation and wiretaps into the Black Guerilla Family took more than a year. Like the scandal inside Baltimore's jail, where Tavon White controlled smuggling, extortion and bribery, the Black Guerilla Family is a criminal organization with a hierarchy and rules.

"And when people don't have approval and seek to sell drugs in a BGF-controlled area, the BGF will either tax them or retaliate against them," Rosenstein said. "That's what's alleged in the indictment."

But it isn't the only federal investigation working. The DEA is actively hunting looters who stole drugs during April's rioting.

"We will identify and we will prosecute the members and people that were involved in any of those 30 pharmacies that we're dealing with today," said DEA Special Agent in charge Shawn Ellerman.

And the ATF says it continues to develop leads on arsonists that hit homes and businesses---but it's the spike of shootings and murders since the riots that have federal law enforcement focused on gangs, especially the Black Guerilla Family.

"If you're in the BGF and you're in the city, we may be coming for you next," Vogt said.

The FBI is offering up a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of 20-year-old Daquan "Day-Day" Burman. He is 5'10" tall and weighs about 175 pounds.

Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI at 410-265-8080.

If tried and convicted, all 14 defendants named in the indictment could receive a maximum prison sentence of life.

Wednesday's indictments bring the number of BGF members indicted in federal court to 118 since 2009.