MEMPHIS, TN—Edward L. Stanton III, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, and leaders of the Multi-Agency Gang Unit announced today that James Earl McCracken, 27, of Memphis, Tennessee, was indicted by a federal grand jury for a violation of the Hobbs Act. The Hobbs Act makes it a federal crime to commit a robbery that interferes with interstate commerce.

According to the one-count indictment, in 2011, James Earl McCracken was the head governor of FAM Mob, a street gang with members in the Frayser, Northhaven, Raleigh and Millington areas of Shelby County, Tennessee. The indictment alleges that FAM Mob’s hierarchy consists of a head governor, governors, CEOs, big “homies” and little “homies.” Further, the indictment alleges that the head governor was responsible for calling membership meetings and enforcing violations of FAM Mob’s rules.

According to the indictment, McCracken and FAM Mob members took part in robbing narcotics traffickers. It is alleged that on or about July 9, 2011, McCracken and others conspired to obstruct, delay, and affect interstate commerce by robbery—specifically, that McCracken and others robbed an individual engaged in narcotics trafficking. The indictment charges that this was a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951. The penalty for a violation of Section 1951 is up to 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

This investigation was conducted by the Multi-Agency Gang Unit which consists of the Memphis Police Department, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Attorney’s Office and the Shelby County District Attorney General’s Office. This case is being prosecuted for the government by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin Whitmore and Reagan Taylor.