DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
District of Minnesota

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Erica H. MacDonald
, United States Attorney
Contact: Angie LaTour

Native Mob Gang Members Arrested for Assault in Aid of Racketeering, Methamphetamine Distribution

United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald announced a federal indictment charging ROBIN LEE LUSSIER, 30, WILLARD DUANE REED III, 24, and JOSHUA ADAMS HANKS, 24, with distribution of methamphetamine and assault resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering activity.[1] LUSSIER and REED made their initial appearance today before Magistrate Judge David T. Schultz. They were ordered detained pending a detainment hearing scheduled for Thursday September 26, 2019 at 2:45 pm.

As alleged in the indictment, from December 1, 2015 through January 1, 2019, LUSSIER and REED conspired with each other and others to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. The indictment further alleges that LUSSIER and HANKS were members of the Native Mob gang, a criminal enterprise whose members and associates engage and have engaged in acts of violence, including murder, attempted murder, robbery, and assault. Finally, the indictment alleges that members and associates of the Native Mob meet regularly to discuss, among other things, acts of violence and crimes committed against rival gang members, gang rules and by-laws, law enforcement interactions, and to share with one another the identities of individuals who might be cooperating with law enforcement and propose actions to be taken against those individuals.

As alleged in the indictment, on December 5, 2018, LUSSIER and HANKS committed an assault resulting in serious bodily injury to individual, for the purposes of maintaining and increasing positions in the Native Mob gang.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Minnesota Department of Corrections, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Red Lake Tribal Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew R. Winter and Bradley Endicott are prosecuting the case.

 

Defendant Information:

ROBIN LEE LUSSIER, a/k/a Ratchet, 30

Red Lake, Minn.

Charges:

  • Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, 1 count
  • Assault resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering activity, 1 count

WILLARD DUANE REED, III, a/k/a Left, a/k/a Leftfield, 24

Bemidji, Minn.

Charges:

  • Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, 1 count

JOSHUA ADAM HANKS, a/k/a Souless, 24

Minneapolis, Minn.

Charges:

  • Assault resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering activity, 1 count

 

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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600

 

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[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

St. Paul Field Division