In a significant development, a federal grand jury has indicted six individuals allegedly affiliated with a notorious Chicago street gang. These charges come as part of an extensive investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois, which claims the group operated as a criminal enterprise responsible for heinous acts including murders, armed robberies, and carjackings, all aimed at maintaining control over their territory on Chicago’s South Side.
The indictment paints a grim picture of the Faceworld street gang’s activities, accusing its members of engaging in a spree of violence characterized by 13 murders, numerous attempted murders, assaults, and a series of armed robberies and carjackings across the city. This alarming pattern of violence underscores the danger posed by such organized crime groups.
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Among the egregious acts of violence attributed to the gang is a shooting incident targeting passengers on a CTA bus and mourners at the funeral of a rival gang member, who was allegedly killed by Faceworld affiliates. This incident, which took place in July 2020, saw gunmen in a black Chevy Malibu open fire on a crowd attending the funeral near 79th and Carpenter streets, leaving at least 15 individuals injured and sending others scrambling for safety.
Recounting the chaos, Father Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Church vividly remembers the aftermath. “It was like a war zone,” he remarked, recalling the sight of bullet casings scattered across the street and sidewalk. In a bid to aid law enforcement efforts, Pfleger offered a $15,000 reward following the tragedy, highlighting the community’s desperation for justice and peace.
“I remember being out there after it happened and seeing casings all over the street and the sidewalk. I said, ‘this is like a war zone,’” said Father Michael Pfleger, with St. Sabina Church.
Pfleger offered a $15,000 reward after the shooting.
“If there’s not consequences, there’s no reason to feel like you’re going to get caught. Then people continue to do it,” Pfleger said. “Cowards are the ones that spray crowds and shoot at crowds… And if I remember right, there were children out there at the time, with the adults.”
The indictment also charges one of the defendants with the 2019 murders of 18-year-old Brittani Rice and 19-year-old Senobia Brantley, who both worked at Walmart and were sitting in a vehicle after work near 77th and Eggleston.
A man was also wounded in that shooting.
The defendants and other Faceworld members and associates used threats and intimidation to prevent victims and witnesses from cooperating with law enforcement, the charges allege.
Faceworld members allegedly promoted the gang on social media, posting comments, photos and videos to proclaim membership, taunt rivals and boast about murders and other acts of violence, the release said.
The defendants and other Faceworld members and associates also trafficked cocaine and heroin in Chicago and Iowa, the indictment states.
“It’s right in the sweet spot of what the U.S. Attorney’s Office does. It’s a classic RICO gang conspiracy. They’ve done them for years, and this fits right in the mold,” ABC7 Chicago chief legal analyst Gil Soffer said. “It’s a long-running criminal gang with a lot of murders to their name, and you can tell that by the charges.”
The indictment was unsealed Friday in U.S. District Court in Chicago.
Chicago residents Dontae Harper, 28; Tyrone Foy, 31; Tyjuan Tapplar, 25; Robert Lee Thomas, 22; Davion Harris, 28; and Deavean Mcclure, 26 have been charged with racketeering conspiracy.
Three are also charged with murder in aid of racketeering.
Three were arraigned Friday.
All six are currently in custody.
Racketeering conspiracy generally carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, but a life sentence is possible.
Harper, Foy and Tapplar face a maximum of the death penalty if convicted of certain murders charged in the indictment.
This is a developing story; check back with ABC7 Chicago for updates.
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