DETROIT – Three men from Detroit who were high-ranking members of a large crime ring were sentenced to decades in prison.
The three men were convicted by a federal jury of RICO conspiracy, murder, drug trafficking and weapons charges in April.
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According to authorities, the Almighty Vice Lord Nation (AVLN) was a vast crime ring spread across the country that was involved in violence, drug trafficking and more. The AVLN have different branches with their own leadership that answers to others in Chicago.
The three convicted and sentenced were involved with the Traveling Vice Lords in Detroit.
Terry Douglass, 44, who held the title of “Chief,” was the Michigan leader of the Traveling Vice Lords. Douglas was sentenced to 60 years in prison.
Schuyler Belew, 31, who held the title of “Universal Elite,” was the Detroit leader of the Traveling Vice Lords. Belew was sentenced to 60 years in prison.
Devun Baskerville, 34, who held the title of “Chief Enforcer” for the Traveling Vice Lords, was sentenced to 70 years in prison.
Prosecutors said the three committed racketeering acts -- such as murder, narcotics trafficking and witness intimidation -- to further the AVLN.
The jury was presented with testimony regarding a daylight shooting in a Detroit park, where Baskerville killed a police informant under orders from Douglas and Belew. He also attempted to kill the informant’s pregnant girlfriend by firing multiple times into her vehicle as she tried to escape with her two young children.
She was shot but survived, while her children were unharmed.
A fourth person, Lawon Carter, was found guilty of drug trafficking and weapons offenses, but has not yet been sentenced.