Twenty-one alleged members of a gang in Arlington are facing charges including racketeering, murder, and assault in aid of racketeering, drug trafficking, and gun crimes.
The alleged criminals of the Arlington-based street gang “Kiccdoe” were charged federally on November 4, according to a release from Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy Larson.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office, along with federal and local law enforcement agencies, will continue to pursue justice against brazen offenders, who organize and terrorize our communities with relentless acts of violence,” Larson said in the release.
The Arlington Police Department, with FBI-Dallas and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, announced the charges on November 12. This followed a federal Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) investigation.
“Our city is safer with these individuals off the streets,” said Arlington Police Chief Al Jones in a press release. “I hope our community can rest a little easier tonight knowing that.”
The suspects were all arrested by November 7, according to the Department of Justice. That day, 17 appeared before a U.S. magistrate judge in the Northern District of Texas. The rest appeared in court on November 12.
If convicted, the suspects could face maximum sentences of 10 years to life in prison.
The Suspects
Law enforcement executed arrest warrants for the suspects in a “joint operation” on November 6, in multiple locations across North Texas, according to Arlington police. The DOJ named each of the suspects and their charges.
- Cortez Atkinson, 18 – Fort Worth. Charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to commit murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
- Joseph Hill, 18 – Fort Worth. Charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
- DaTraven Warren, 18 – Mansfield. Charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering.
- Michael Mensah, 18 – Grand Prairie. Charged with RICO conspiracy, assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
- Raphael Opare, 19 – Arlington. Charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
- Vernell Woods, 19 – Arlington. Charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
- DeMarco Westmoreland, 19 – Mansfield. Charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to commit murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
- Dillen Opare, 20 – Arlington. Charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
- Marcus Shaw, 20 – Arlington. Charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
- KeyShawn Burton, 20 – Arlington. Charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
- JaMarion Manogin, 20 – Forney. Charged with assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering and discharge of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence in aid of racketeering.
- Isaiah Wiley, 21 – Dallas. Charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to commit murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- LaMarion Austin, 21 – Dallas. Charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
- Bradley McArthur, Jr., 21 – Fort Worth. Charged with RICO conspiracy, assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
- Sir James Mack Williams, 21 – Arlington. Charged with conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering.
- Jakayla Totten, 21 – DeSoto. Charged with assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering.
- Chauncey Ross, 22 – Arlington. Charged with RICO conspiracy, murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, and possession of a machine gun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Blake Aaron Scott, 22 – Arlington. Charged with RICO conspiracy, assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
- Jaylen Jeshawn Franklin, 22 – Arlington. Charged with conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering.
- Kyron Oates, 22 – Grand Prairie. Charged with RICO conspiracy, assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Sadedrick Wilson, 22 – Fort Worth. Charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
The Investigation
Since January 2022, Arlington police have reported 180 crimes involving Kiccdoe members – including shootings, robberies, burglaries, aggravated assaults, and drug crimes, according to a press release.
The department had made arrests and filed state charges against gang members in the past, but wanted to explore “additional avenues to disrupt their activity.” In 2024, Arlington police approached the FBI in Dallas about pursuing federal charges.
The FBI and Arlington police began investigating Kiccdoe in April 2024, after a gang member was shot and killed at an Arlington high school, according to the DOJ release. This shooting brought reported retaliation shootings between Kiccdoe and other Arlington gangs.
“Kiccdoe members committed a lengthy pattern of murder, drive-by shootings, robberies, assaults, firearm offenses, and trafficking of fentanyl, marijuana, and other narcotics in Arlington and other North Texas cities,” reads the release, citing court documents.
From early 2022 to 2025, gang members allegedly “terrorized” many Arlington communities with violence and threats.
The Kiccdoe gang first began in the 600 block of E. Arkansas Lane, in east Arlington. To show their affiliation, members used words like “kiccdoe,” “KDN” (“Kiccdoe Nation”), “6”, or “600” on public social media accounts.
“They also wore clothing bearing the same inscriptions and produced and distributed online songs and videos about their gang activities and crimes,” the release reads.
Kiccdoe members allegedly required new recruits – “stripes” – to commit violence before joining, and to keep up their violent reputation in the community.
Specific crimes include a murder, six attempted murders, nine robberies, assaults with dangerous weapons, sales of fentanyl and marijuana, and threats of violence – all to “preserve the profits, power, and territory” of the gang.
FBI-Dallas and Arlington police led the investigation, according to the release. The U.S. Marshals, ATF, and Texas Department of Public Safety also assisted, alongside NORTEX Metro SWAT and North Tarrant Regional SWAT. The Fort Worth Police Department, the North Richland Hills Police Department, and the Garland Police Department also assisted.
FBI-Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock stated that the FBI is committed to collaborating with partners in the Tarrant County Safe Streets Task Force to protect the community.
“Alongside the Arlington Police Department, we made a significant impact on violent crime through the arrest of violent gang members and the seizure of firearms and drugs,” Rothrock said. “These arrests demonstrate the importance of partnerships in combatting the violence that plagues our communities.”
Jones thanked agents with the FBI-Dallas for their help with the investigation, and pledged “every resource” to stop violent crime in Arlington.
“The members of this gang have been involved in numerous violent offenses in our community, including shootings, aggravated assaults, robberies, and more,” Jones said in the release. “By getting these individuals off our streets, we are making Arlington safer.”
Arlington police busted the Chicas Locas strip club on October 23 after a sex trafficking investigation, as The Dallas Express reported. At the time, officers arrested two club managers and two patrons, but more arrests were still pending.
In June, Arlington police suspected drug activity of causing a fatal shooting in an apartment complex, as The Dallas Express also reported. In May, the department arrested a teen for spraying a bleach cocktail on students in a school bus.