DETROIT – A few dozen alleged members and associates of the Almighty Vice Lord Nation gang will now be facing a slew of charges in an investigation that’s been underway for years.
The announcement made this week comes from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The 172-page indictment goes back to 2018 and looks at gang members in both Michigan and Chicago.
“This indictment is filed on a number of significant leaders, members and associates that are connected with this organization,” said Michigan Eastern District U.S. Attorney Saima Mohsim.
What helped solidify the charges being filed were officers raiding a home on Hubbell Avenue, where police said they found evidence of drugs, illegal firearms and more.
“Today was pretty much a reckoning,” said Jim Deir, ATF Detroit Special Agent in Charge. “And the reckoning is the city of Detroit has had enough and the federal government has had enough.”
The person who lives at the home is believed to be in charge of the Michigan Vice Lords. His name is Kevin Fordham, also known as Spaghetti.
“The bottom line is they’re off the streets of Detroit,” Deir said. “Maybe tonight, Detroit can be just a little bit safer.”
Fordham, along with several of the high-ranking soldiers in this street army, are also looking at racketeering conspiracy charges, plus other accusations of extortion, stabbings and even murder.
“If they’ve got to kill somebody, they will,” Deir said. “If they have to shoot them, if they have to assault them physically, if they have to stab them, then they do that.”
Homes raided in Detroit
In a joint sting, officers were able to raid 13 homes in Detroit and Chicago. One of them being on Hubbell Avenue.
A woman who claimed to be Fordham’s girlfriend spoke with Local 4. She said she was at the home on Hubbell Avenue when it was raided and what is listed in the indictment does not describe Fordham at all.
“I’ve been with this man for 17 years. We’re raising grandbabies together. I just don’t understand it,” she said. “He’s not that kind of guy. I think it’s just guilty by association.”
However, the ATF said he hasn’t been doing the dirty work and that’s it’s a hierarchy structure that kept him out of trouble.
“Mr. Fordham, in this gang, has several layers of insulation to avoid detection from law enforcement,” Deir concluded.
The investigation is still underway, but Local 4 has been told this is only the beginning as they go after more gang members.
More than 700 Vice Lords have been identified in the state of Michigan alone.
More: Detroit crime news