Authorities in Texas have apprehended over 20 members of the Kiccdoe gang, who stand accused of engaging in violent criminal activities, as reported by Arlington police and the FBI.

These arrests were the result of search warrants executed across several Texas cities, including Arlington, Dallas, Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, Mansfield, and Forney. At a press conference, Jeremy Wright, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Dallas division, stated that during these operations, law enforcement officials seized firearms, illegal drugs, and cash, according to a report from FOX 4.

The operation led to the arrest of 21 individuals identified as members of the Kiccdoe gang. These individuals are now facing charges under the RICO Act, which stands for Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations, specifically for conspiracy.

In addition to the RICO charges, several suspects are being charged with drug and weapons offenses. Some members are also facing serious accusations, including murder and sexual assault.

More than 20 Kiccdoe gang members accused of violent crimes in Texas were arrested. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP)

“Charges including murder, drug trafficking, assault, burglary, even aggravated sexual assault of a child,” FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on X. “This was a multi-agency effort of over 450 local and federal law enforcement personnel to investigate, go in and clean up the violence in Arlington.”

If convicted on the federal charges, many of the suspects face prison sentences of 20 years to life in prison.

The arrested suspects are 22-year-old Blake Scott, 21-year-old Bradly McArthur, 18-year-old Cortez Atkinson, 18-year-old Datraven Warren, 19-year-old DeMarco Westmoreland, 20-year-old Dillen Opare, 19-year-old Raphael Opare, 21-year-old Isaiah Wiley, 19-year-old Jakyla Totten, 20-year-old Jamarion Manogin, 22-year-old Jaylen Franklin, 18-year-old Joseph Hill, 22-year-old Kyron Oates, 18-year-old Michael Mensah, 21-year-old Lamarion Austin, 20-year-old Marcus Shaw, 21-year-old Sadedrick Wilson, 19-year-old Vernell Woods, 21-year-old Sir James Mack Williams, 22-year-old Chauncey Ross and 20-year-old Keyshawn Burton.

“Do not let the ages distract from the havoc that they’ve inflicted upon our community,” Wright said. “These gang members allegedly use violence and intimidation to protect our territory and profits. They instilled fear in their victims and took revenge on their rivals.”

Some of the suspects were slapped with murder and sexual assault charges. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

“Kiccdoe members are allegedly responsible for drive-by shootings, numerous attempted murders and even homicides,” he continued. “In addition, they’ve allegedly engaged in organized crime, drug trafficking, weapons possession, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, armed robbery, resisting arrest, assaulting a public servant and aggravated sexual assault of a child.”

Arlington Police Chief Al Jones said the gang is responsible for much of the violent crime in the city and that he asked the local FBI field office for help last year, according to FOX 4.

“Our violent crime unit and our gang specialists have investigated numerous cases involving this group and have been closely monitoring their activity since January of 2022,” he said. “We have documented 180 criminal incidents involving Kiccdoe members. This includes aggravated assaults, robberies, burglaries, shootings, and drug offenses. That’s just within the city of Arlington.”

Law enforcement executed search warrants in Arlington, Dallas, Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, Mansfield and Forney. (Getty Images)

Jones said he hopes the arrests send a message and will help keep the community safe.

“Our city is safer with these suspects off the street, and I hope our community can rest a little easier tonight knowing that. I also hope that we have proven to them that we will not tolerate violence in our community, and we’re going to do everything in our power to stop it,” he said.

Arlington police and the FBI said their joint operation will continue.