In a press conference Wednesday morning, Shelby County District Attorney Amy Weirich and Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong announced that a recent drug and gang investigation brought forth 30 indictments for drug-related offenses.
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DA Amy Weirich
The lengthy investigation was conducted over several months and resulted in arrests within South Memphis’ Riverside neighborhood, an area that’s been plagued with gang activity and drug distribution for years.
MPD’s Organized Crime Unit seized more than 700 grams of cocaine, $400,000 in cash, and various automobiles and other items. Two primary targets of the investigation were brothers Kenneth and Keith Bohanon. The brothers were one-time major customers of the notorious Craig Petties organization.
Ten of the 30 defendants are charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to sell cocaine in an amount over 300 grams. This is a class A felony that normally carries a punishment of 15 to 25 years in prison. Twenty other defendants are charged with purchasing cocaine for resale. Three of the individuals charged are gang members: one with the Riverside Rollin’ 90s Crips and two with the Gangster Disciples.
Prior to the indictment, the Riverside community had been on the MPD’s radar. In September, the MPD’s Multi-Agency Gang Unit issued the first-ever injunction against a criminal gang. The injunction declared the Rollin 90s a public nuisance and banned its members from indulging in illegal activity, such as drug dealing, weapon possession, trespassing, and public drinking.
The 30-person indictment is not directly linked to the September gang injunction. However, it’s another step for law enforcement on its journey to restore the city’s Riverside neighborhood.