Jurors in Minneapolis convicted three men of drug and gun charges Tuesday in a racketeering case targeting the Native Mob, a notoriously violent gang that started in prison and spread through Indian Country in the Upper Midwest.
So far 30 people have been convicted of crimes in an investigation that dates back to 2004. Jurors returned a mixed verdict against the three men who went to trial Jan. 22, finding two guilty on some charges but not others, and one guilty of all charges.
"The Native Mob has been a real detriment to Native American communities of Minnesota. Their game plan is to promote fear; that is the base of their power. And I think their power is diminished by this jury's verdict," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Schleicher.
Schleicher said the effect of having numerous fellow Native Mob members testify in open court against the men is bound to make other gang members pause and realize "that they can't trust their co-conspirators."
Attorney Thomas Shiah was left wondering how the jury could convict his client, William Earl Morris, 25, of attempted murder and related gun charges in support of racketeering, but find him not guilty of the racketeering conspiracy itself. Morris, who is already serving a 200-month sentence in state prison on the attempted murder charge, denies being a member of the Native Mob.
"I think it creates a significant issue on appeal," Shiah said outside of court. "I'm very happy with the not guilty verdict."
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Winter said he disagrees about the Morris verdict. "They did convict him of a very egregious crime in the aid of a criminal racketeering enterprise," Winter said. "There's no legal inconsistency in the verdict."
Wakinyon Wakan McArthur, 34, a former leader of the group, was convicted of racketeering conspiracy and five gun and drug charges involving cocaine and cocaine base. But jurors found him not guilty of attempted murder, assault with a dangerous weapon and using a firearm in a crime of violence.