Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Former Leader of FAM Mob Sentenced for Violating RICO Act
Memphis, TN – The former leader of notorious street gang FAM Mob has been sentenced to federal prison for violating the RICO Act. Edward L. Stanton III, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, James Earl McCracken, 28, of Memphis, Tennessee, served as the head governor of FAM Mob. The street gang has a presence throughout the Northern section of Memphis and Shelby County, including Frayser, Northhaven, Raleigh and Millington. FAM Mob's hierarchy consists of a head governor, governors, CEOs, “big homies” and “little homies.”
As head governor of FAM Mob, McCracken was responsible for calling membership meetings and enforcing violations of the gang's rules.
Alleged racketeering acts associated with FAM Mob include robberies, drug trafficking, and murder.
The RICO Act prohibits persons associated with a criminal enterprise from engaging in unlawful activities, such as robbery, murder, drug trafficking, and other crimes affecting interstate and foreign commerce.
One example of McCracken’s criminal activity took place in July 2011. Along with other members of FAM Mob, McCracken robbed a drug dealer who was trafficking narcotics manufactured outside of the district.
In November 2014, McCracken was indicted for violating the Hobbs Act, which makes it a federal crime to commit a robbery that interferes with interstate commerce.
Following McCracken’s 2014 indictment, Jarvis Lewis became the new head governor of FAM Mob. Lewis was later arrested for felony firearm possession, and convicted by a federal jury of the crime in November 2015. Lewis was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison in February 2016.
In December 2015, McCracken pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John T. Fowlkes Jr. to one count of racketeering conspiracy.
In July 2016, Jude Fowlkes sentenced McCracken to 120 months in federal prison.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Multi-Agency Gang Unit.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Whitmore and Reagan Taylor prosecuted this case on the government’s behalf.
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