MERIDIAN, MS – Darrell Steele, 49, of Meridian, Mississippi, has confessed to a terrifying act of violence and a sprawling drug conspiracy, bringing a final end to a federal case targeting the Gangster Disciples and their allies. Steele pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, admitting he threw a firebomb at the home of a Mississippi prison guard back on or about September 11, 2019, acting on orders from gang leadership.
The intended target, a guard interfering with the gang’s drug operations within state prisons, thankfully escaped unharmed along with his wife and young children, though the firebomb malfunctioned. But the attempt, according to court documents, was a calculated act of intimidation and violence intended to protect the gang’s illicit profits. Steele wasn’t acting alone; he was part of a network distributing more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, fueling the gang’s criminal enterprise.
This guilty plea marks the twelfth and final conviction in a Northern District of Mississippi case that ensnared five members of the Gangster Disciples and seven affiliated with the Simon City Royals. The feds have been systematically dismantling this alliance, known as the “Folk Nation Alliance,” which allegedly coordinated fraud, narcotics trafficking, and violence throughout Mississippi. The sentencing for Steele is scheduled for August 16th, where he faces a potential life sentence.
The sentencing breakdown for the eleven other convicted gang members reveals the scope of the operation and the penalties handed down. Latroy Daniels, aka Duke, received 10 years. Gregory Moffett, aka Gutta, aka Sir Judah, also 10 years. Michael Willie, aka OG Mike, 10 years. Derrick Houston, aka Psycho, faced the longest sentence at 16 years and eight months. Donald Jones, aka Worm, got seven years and eight months. Wilton Johnson, aka Big Boi, three years and five months. Jeremy Smith, aka Lil One, also three years and five months. Carl McMillian received five years and ten months. James Vaughn, aka Sir Flute, got five years and ten months. Justin Hannah received eight years and four months, and Joe Johnson, seven years and eight months.
Federal prosecutors aren’t stopping there. A related case is already underway, targeting another 21 members and associates of the Simon City Royals. The investigation, a collaborative effort between the ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Secret Service, FBI Jackson Field Office, Mississippi Department of Corrections, and local law enforcement, paints a picture of widespread criminal activity within the Mississippi prison system and beyond. The Gangster Disciples and Simon City Royals allegedly worked together to commit assaults, attempted murders, and other violent acts to maintain control and maximize profits.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner for the Northern District of Mississippi, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the ATF New Orleans Field Division announced the latest conviction. Trial Attorney Brendan Woods of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Stringfellow are leading the prosecution. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on further developments as they emerge.”
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Organized Crime|Weapons|Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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