Mariah Carey, Marlo Hampton amongst celebrities focused by gang, Atlanta prosecutor says

A prosecutor on Monday introduced a sprawling indictment focusing on members of what she mentioned is a violent road gang that has been focusing on the Atlanta space properties of well-known athletes, entertainers and others who flaunt costly possessions on social media.

Singer Mariah Carey, Marlo Hampton of “The Actual Housewives of Atlanta,” Atlanta United participant Brad Guzan and the Atlanta Falcons’ Calvin Ridley all had their properties damaged into, the indictment says. The 220-count indictment was filed Aug. 22 and costs 26 individuals, most of whom are accused of violating Georgia’s anti-gang and racketeering legal guidelines.

Fulton County District Lawyer Fani Willis mentioned the crimes alleged within the indictment – carjacking, kidnapping, armed theft, shootings, house invasions – had been dedicated by members of the Drug Wealthy gang, which she mentioned started to emerge in 2016 in a neighbouring county. Along with the movie star targets, social media influencers had been additionally victimized in house invasions and burglaries, Willis mentioned.

“What they do is goal individuals who present their wealth on social media,” she mentioned. “So I do have a message for the general public: The place it’s form of enjoyable to place your issues on social media and showcase, sadly these gangs have gotten extra savvy, extra refined in the best way that they aim you.”

However Willis additionally had a message for the alleged gang members: “In case you thought Fulton was an excellent county to carry your crime to, to carry your violence to, you might be improper and you’re going endure penalties and right this moment is the beginning of a few of these penalties.”

Willis mentioned the indictment, filed final week, represented a collaboration between totally different regulation enforcement businesses working collectively. Cracking down on gangs is a precedence for Willis, and he or she mentioned she intends to pursue robust penalties for individuals concerned with violent gang exercise.

“I’m not going to barter with gang members. I’m not going to permit pleas,” she mentioned. “We’re going to discover you, we’re going to convict you and we’re going to ship you to the jail for the remainder of your days, and I’m not apologizing for that.”

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