Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Memphis, TN – Derrick Kennedy Crumpton, the Assistant Governor of the Gangster Disciples for the State of Tennessee, has pleaded guilty to both RICO and drug conspiracy charges. Lawrence J. Laurenzi, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the guilty plea today.

 

According to the indictment, as the Assistant Governor of the Gangster Disciples, Crumpton directed other members and associates of the enterprise in carrying out criminal activity with other Gangster Disciples gang leaders, as well as participated directly in the criminal activities of the enterprise - including murder, kidnapping, assault, intimidation of witnesses and victims, narcotics distribution, and weapons trafficking.

 

"It is important that gang members are aware that if they engage in drug dealing and/or violent acts that they will receive a stiff prison sentence. Mr. Crumpton’s guilty plea demonstrates that joining a violent street gang is a dead-end decision that will end badly for its members," said Acting U.S. Attorney Laurenzi.

 

Crumpton is 1 of 16 Gangster Disciples in the Memphis and Jackson area indicted in May 2016 for conspiring to participate in a racketeering enterprise. On Tuesday, May 30, 2017, Crumpton pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr., to conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise and conspiracy to distribute narcotics. Crumpton is the second of 16 indicted defendants to plead guilty. Daniel Cole pleaded guilty on December 21, 2016.

Crumpton is scheduled to be sentenced by the Honorable John T. Fowlkes, Jr., on Thursday, August 17, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. He faces up to life in federal prison and a fine of up to $10,000,000.

 

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI); the Multi-Agency Gang Unit, Police Departments for Memphis, Bartlett, Germantown, and Jackson; Sheriff’s Offices for Tipton, Desoto, Madison, Fayette, and Shelby County; and the West Tennessee Drug Task Force.

 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jerry Kitchen, Beth Boswell, Michelle Kimbril-Parks, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Sam Stringfellow are prosecuting this case on the government’s behalf.