TULSA, OK—In a 5th Superseding Indictment, unsealed today in the United States District Court, approximately 51 members and associates of the Hoover Crips Street Gang and the Donald Walter’s Drug Trafficking Organization were charged with 238 criminal offenses, including drug conspiracy, engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, weapon offenses, retaliating against a witness, and conspiring to promote dog fighting.

The charges are the result of a three-year U.S. Attorney’s Office, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation, led by the Tulsa Police Department’s Homicide and Special Investigation Divisions, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in collaboration with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office; the U.S. Marshal Service; the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office; the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office; the Broken Arrow Police Department; the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Oklahoma Highway Patrol; and the Norman Police Department.

The charges were announced today at a press conference by United States Attorney Danny C. Williams Sr., Northern District of Oklahoma; FBI Special Agent in Charge James E. Finch, Oklahoma City Division; Oklahoma Attorney General E. Scott Pruitt; Tulsa County District Attorney Tim Harris; Tulsa Police Chief Chuck Jordan; and DEA Special Agent in Charge Dan Salter.

According to the allegations in the 5th Superseding Indictment, from April 2011 to August 2014, the defendants conspired to purchase cocaine and marijuana from the Sinaloa Cartel and the Los Zeta Cartel. Both Cartels operated in Mexico, and sold drugs in the Tulsa area. During the conspiracy, money generated was used for dog fighting, gambling, travel, and vehicle purchases.

The 5th Superseding Indictment further alleges, the defendants operated “crack houses” in the Tulsa area for cooking, packaging, and selling of cocaine. These houses were also used as locations for money drops. The defendants would also use dozens of coded phrases when communicating and would “drop” phones in order to avoid law enforcement detection.

The defendants are also charged with purchasing, training, and breeding pit bulls for dog fighting.

In addition, Lorell Antonio Battle and Gaywone Dekeith Blades are charged with conspiring to retaliate against fellow gang member Anthony Campbell, who was a witness in a Federal trial and who provided information to law enforcement about street gang activities and other crimes. On April 3, 2013, Battle allegedly shot approximately 13 times at close range and killed Campbell.

If convicted, the defendants face forfeiture of vehicles, firearms, and nine (9) residences used to manufacture and distribute crack cocaine. The defendants also face entry of a $10 million dollar criminal forfeiture money judgment.

Assistant United States Attorneys Allen J. Litchfield, Robert T. Raley, Eric O. Johnston, and Catherine Depew are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

An indictment is one method of charging defendants with alleged violations of Federal Law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.