Members and Associates of Vic Boys Street Gang Arrested and Indicted
| FBI Cleveland August 12, 2013 |
The Mahoning Valley Violent Crimes Task Force, an FBI-sponsored task force, announces the arrest of Vic Boys criminal street gang members and their associates after a Mahoning County grand jury returned a 48-count indictment charging nine people for their participation in the Youngstown-area criminal street gang and four others because of their association with the criminal street gang. In addition, three people were charged through the Mahoning County Juvenile Court for their participation in the criminal street gang.
The gang was involved in street level drug trafficking and gun violence in and around the Victory Estates neighborhood of East Youngstown. In 2012, the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force began investigating a drug trafficking organization that included known members of the Vic Boys criminal street gang. The group was targeted because of neighborhood tips detailing their ongoing criminal activity and because the group has been a known catalyst for violence in Youngstown.
“The individuals indicted last week and arrested this morning are charged with serious offenses representing their willingness to engage in violent acts putting our community at risk,” said Stephen D Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Cleveland Office. “As evidenced by this continuing investigation, the FBI will work with our law enforcement partners to target and eliminate the most significant threats to our communities to include violent gang activity.”
The county indictment charged the 13 people with various offenses, including trafficking in heroin, trafficking in cocaine, trafficking in marijuana, possession of cocaine, having weapons while under disability, and participating in a criminal gang.
Arrested persons include:
- Phillip Anderson, Youngstown, Ohio
- Darrell Mason, Youngstown, Ohio
- Marquis Christian, Youngstown, Ohio
- Curtis Jones, Youngstown, Ohio
- Devante Gilmore, Youngstown, Ohio
- Graylyn Folmar, Campbell, Ohio
- Charles Moore, Youngstown, Ohio
- Brandon Wallace, Boardman, Ohio,
- Martin Sims, Youngstown, Ohio
- Jody Briggs, Youngstown, Ohio
- Lawrence Mitchum, Youngstown, Ohio
In addition to these arrested people, two unnamed individuals have not been arrested, and another three people were charged through the Mahoning County Juvenile Court.
“These types of cases and arrests are only possible because of the tremendous cooperation between local, state, and federal law enforcement," said Chief Rod Foley, Youngstown Police Department. “This is one of many efforts by the Youngstown Police Department and other area law enforcement to proactively reduce violence in our city ”
The FBI task force is composed of law enforcement officers and agents from several local, state, and federal departments and agencies, including Austintown Township, Beaver Township, Boardman township, Canfield City, Hubbard City, Humility of Marry Health Partners, Mahoning County Sheriff’s Department, Mill Creek Metro Parks, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Struthers, Youngstown, and the FBI.
Task Force Officers Marc Gillette and Steve Woodberry from the Youngstown Police Department and Detective Jon Martin from the Boardman Police Department led the effort to investigate this group. These officers are detailed to the FBI task force from their respective departments.
“I praise the hard work and dedication of the many task force officers and agents involved in this investigation,” said Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Martin Desmond of the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office. “Thanks to their collaboration, the Vic Boys’ violent hold on this community has come to an end.”
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendants’ sentences will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendants’ prior criminal records, if any; their role in the offenses; and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentences will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
Any questions regarding this news release can be directed to SA Vicki D Anderson at the Cleveland Office of the FBI, 216-522-1400 or Vicki.anderson@ic.fbi.gov, or SSA Todd Werth of the Youngstown FBI Resident Agency at 330-965-2940.