Sixth “Playboy Blood” Street Gang Member Sentenced for Racketeering Conviction

LAS VEGAS—Demichael Burks, aka “Mikey P.,” 26, a member of the Playboy Bloods criminal street gang, was sentenced today to six-and-a-half years in prison and three years of supervised release for his guilty plea to racketeering conspiracy (RICO) charges, announced Daniel G. Bogden, United States Attorney for the District of Nevada. Burks is the sixth member of the street gang convicted and sentenced this year.

Burks admitted that he operated drug houses at 1704 Curran and 1003 Silverman Streets in Las Vegas, and distributed at least 83.2 grams of crack cocaine as a member of the Playboy Bloods. According to the plea agreements, the Playboy Bloods operated primarily in the Sherman Gardens Annex housing complex at H and Doolittle Streets in Las Vegas. Members of the gang are involved in criminal racketeering acts including murder, attempted murder, robbery and drug trafficking, and that the main financial activity of the gang is the trafficking of narcotics. Members distribute drugs from apartments and hotels in their neighborhood which are rented in the names of others in exchange for drugs.

The other defendants who also pled guilty and have been sentenced are:

Delvin Ward, aka “D-Luv,” 33, pled guilty to RICO conspiracy and was sentenced to 11 years in prison and three years supervised release on September 17, 2010. Ward admitted that he operated drug houses at: 1704 Curran, 1003 Silverman, 10145 Silverman, 1016 Silverman, the Veterans of Foreign War Post at 1905 H Street, and the Budget Suites at 4855 Boulder Highway, in Las Vegas, and that he distributed at least 140 grams of crack cocaine.

Anthony Mabury, aka “Akim Slim,” 40, pled guilty to RICO conspiracy and was sentenced to 14 years in prison and three years supervised release on October 20, 2010.

Terrence Thomas, aka “Seven,” 37, pled to drug conspiracy and was sentenced to 10 years in prison and five years’ supervised release June 16, 2010.

Sebastian Wigg, aka “Rock,” 33, pled to drug conspiracy and was sentenced to five years in prison and four years supervised release on March 29, 2010. Wigg admitted that he operated drug houses, including at 3834 Terrazzo, and that he distributed at least 37 grams of crack cocaine.

Fred Nix, aka "June P,” 34, pled to drug conspiracy and was sentenced to five years in prison and four years supervised release on March 29, 2010. Nix admitted that he operated drug houses at 919 Silverman, 1003 Silverman, and at the Budget Suites at 4855 Boulder Highway, and that he distributed at least 30.2 grams of crack cocaine.

Ten members of the Playboy Bloods were indicted in October 2008, on charges of committing acts of violence and drug trafficking as part of their membership in the gang. The remaining four defendants, Markette Tillman, Steven Booth, Jacorey Taylor, and Reginald Dunlap, are currently pending trial on charges that Tillman and Booth murdered Sherman Gardens security guard Brian Wilcox on January 20, 2004, as he rode his bicycle away from a disturbance, and that defendants Taylor, Dunlap, and Booth murdered Billy Thomas on November 1, 2004, in the parking lot of the Pecos Terrace Apartments at 3555 E. Lake Mead Boulevard in Las Vegas.

The cases are being investigated by the FBI’s Las Vegas Safe Streets Gang Task Force, which include officers from the North Las Vegas Police Department and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kathleen Bliss and Nicholas D. Dickinson.