Leaders of Bloods gang in Raleigh convicted of murder, racketeering

Demetrice R. "Respect" Devine, 37, of Garner, and Brandon Jowan "B-Easy" Mangum, 31, of Knightdale, were both convicted of conspiracy to participate in a pattern of racketeering, two counts of murder in aid of racketeering, two counts of murder with a firearm during a crime of violence, conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to commit witness tampering.

Both men will be sentenced later, when they face a maximum of life in prison.

"This case targeted the worst of the worst," U.S. Attorney Robert Higdon said in a statement. "These men pose a serious danger to the people of eastern North Carolina, and with this conviction, we have removed this danger from our community."

Devine is the leader of the Gangsta Killer Bloods and created Black Mob Gangstas, or BMG, and the Donald Gee Family, or DGF, organization. BMG and DGF are parts of the Bloods gang that committed various crimes in Raleigh, especially in the area of Haywood Street, authorities said. Mangum is a high-ranking member of BMG/DGF, authorities said.

BMG/DGF members used violence to maintain membership and discipline, both within the gang and against non-gang members, authorities said. The violence included murders, attempted murders and assaults to maintain their positions within the gang and be promoted within the leadership structure of the gang, authorities said.

Devine also presided over a “beat-in” gang initiation of a BMG/DGF member and personally assaulted another gang member whose loyalty he questioned, authorities said. Healso conspired with other gang members to silence and threaten members who had been subpoenaed to testify in a federal proceeding.

Devine and Mangum both sold drugs on behalf of BMG/DGF, authorities said, and they also provided drugs to lower-ranking gang members for further distribution into the community.

BMG/DGF is considered a criminal enterprise, authorities said, because its members worked to preserve and protect their power and territory through violent crimes and intimidation and were engaged in interstate and foreign commerce.