A shadow has lifted from the streets of south Minneapolis. Federal prosecutors announced Wednesday the culmination of a major investigation targeting the “Family Mob” gang, a criminal enterprise allegedly responsible for flooding the area with deadly fentanyl.
The charges, unsealed in the District of Minnesota, detail a brazen operation that spanned seven months, with authorities alleging the gang possessed over seven kilograms of fentanyl – enough to create over 3.5 million potentially lethal doses. This wasn’t a hidden operation; it was an open-air drug market, aggressively maintained near Lake Street and Park Avenue.
Five individuals now face federal charges: Silk Lamond Davis, Alexisus Jarmon Mosby, Kiron Jamoll Williams, Rashshon Jamahl Taggett, and Lakendrick Darnell Gilliam. The accusations range from simple possession with intent to distribute to large-scale conspiracy, each carrying the potential for a life sentence.
The operation wasn’t just about drugs. Authorities allege the “Family Mob” actively used force and intimidation to eliminate rivals, establishing a ruthless control over their territory. They didn’t just sell poison; they actively suppressed competition, solidifying their grip on the community.
Wednesday morning saw a coordinated surge of law enforcement, with eight SWAT teams and personnel from the FBI, Minneapolis Police Department, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, and DEA executing fourteen search warrants. The targets weren’t just homes, but locations believed to hold narcotics, firearms, and crucial evidence of the gang’s activities.
This wasn’t a sudden crackdown. The “Family Mob” has been a fixture in Minneapolis since the 1990s, building a reputation on narcotics trafficking and a willingness to use violence. For decades, they operated with a perceived sense of invulnerability, a belief that they could act without consequence.
U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen emphasized the sheer scale of the threat, stating the amount of fentanyl seized could have caused unimaginable devastation. Beyond the federal charges, seven additional individuals were taken into custody on related state offenses, bringing the total arrests to twelve.
The dismantling of the “Family Mob” represents a significant victory for a multi-agency effort. Interim Special Agent in Charge Rick Evanchec of the FBI’s Minneapolis field office highlighted the sweeping collaboration required to bring down this long-standing criminal network.
Dustin Gillespie, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Omaha Field Division, delivered a stark message: the gang’s reign of intimidation is over. Their attempt to profit from the suffering of others has been met with a decisive response, delivering a blow to their drug trafficking operations and offering a measure of relief to the Minneapolis community.
The investigation serves as a chilling reminder of the pervasive threat of fentanyl and the lengths to which criminal organizations will go to exploit vulnerable communities. It also underscores the power of coordinated law enforcement to disrupt these networks and protect public safety.
