MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday a federal grand jury has indicted three alleged gang members with deadly violent crimes in Memphis and West Tennessee.
Edward Earl Allen Jr., known as E-Money, 40, of San Bernardino, California; Vincent Grant, known as V Slash, 40, of Memphis; and Deandre Rodgers, known as Dre, 27, of Memphis, are all charged with causing death by use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. If convicted, they each face a maximum penalty of life in prison, or the death penalty.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office accuses the three of being members of the Unknown Vice Lords (UVL)-Ghost Mob, which prosecutors say is a violent street gang accused of racketeering, murder, robbery, and drug trafficking.
Prosecutors said the indictment accused Allen, Grant, and Rodgers of killing someone to get into and maintain their positions in the gang.
“This prosecution is the first brought in Memphis as part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative — a collaboration with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to address gang-related violence. It will not be the last,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.
“When we announced the Violent Crime Initiative in Memphis, we promised to double down on our commitment to ensure families can feel safe in their homes and children can play safely on our streets without the threat of gang violence,” said U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee. “The crimes alleged in this indictment underscore the tireless effort our prosecutors and agents are putting into fulfilling that promise and targeting the drivers of violence in Memphis with every tool we have.”
The ATF, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and Memphis Police Department investigated the case, with help from the U.S. Marshals Service.