Newtowne Gang In 1992, several members of a drug trafficking syndicate, known as the Newtowne Gang, committed a series of multiple murders in
Richmond, Virginia in furtherance of the syndicate's growing influence in the area. A total of 11 people, including members of the gang's rival syndicates, were killed. The gang's key members –
Corey Johnson, Richard Tipton and James H. Roane Jr. – were arrested and charged under the federal drug laws for committing murders in furtherance of a continuing criminal enterprise, an offence that carried the
death penalty. Several other members implicated in the murders were also charged. In the end, Johnson was sentenced to death and executed by
lethal injection on January 14, 2021, for seven counts of murder. Roane and Tipton were also condemned to federal death row but subsequently had their death sentences commuted to
life without parole by then President
Joe Biden on December 23, 2024. Several others were also given varying custodial sentences for their differing roles in the slayings.
Black Mafia Family The
Black Mafia Family was a major cocaine distribution organization led by brothers
Demetrius "Big Meech" Flenory and
Terry "Southwest T" Flenory. Originally from the streets of
Southwest Detroit, the brothers started selling $50 bags of
crack in high school and by the early 1990s were distributing thousands of kilograms of
cocaine in over 21 states.
Rayful Edmond III Rayful Edmond was convicted of distributing thousands of kilograms of cocaine in the
Washington, D.C. area. His trial featured the first-ever
anonymous jury in the District's history. Furthermore, jurors were kept behind bulletproof glass in the courtroom and the defendant, Edmond, was housed at the
U.S. Marine Base at Quantico and flown in daily on military transport.
Larry Hoover Larry Hoover was the founder of the
Gangster Disciples street gang and was alleged to be its leader despite being in prison since 1973. On August 31, 1995, Hoover was arrested by federal agents at the
Vienna Correctional Center and moved to
MCC Chicago, being charged with Continuing Criminal Enterprise and a host of other charges related to gang activity. He is currently serving a life sentence at the super-maximum security facility in
ADX Florence in
Florence, Colorado.
Tijuana Cartel Several leaders of the
Tijuana Cartel all would eventually have CCE charges brought against them for cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana trafficking offenses; as well as numerous murders. All brothers involved in the cartel are now either dead or in prison.
Augusto Falcon and Salvador Magluta Salvador "Sal" Magluta and
Augusto "Willy" Falcon operated one of the most significant cocaine trafficking organizations in
South Florida history. They were indicted by a federal grand jury in April 1991 for a plethora of drug trafficking crimes, including operating a continuing criminal enterprise. They were accused of importing and distributing over 75 tons of cocaine, or over 68,181 kilograms (150,000 lbs). Both Magluta and Falcon were found not guilty after a lengthy trial before Judge Federico Moreno. Magluta was represented by Roy Black, Martin Wienberg, and Richard Martinez and Falcon was represented by
Albert Krieger, Susan Van Dusen, and D. Robert "Bobby" Wells. Following the trial,
the United States Attorney's Office directed an investigation into Magluta and Falcon's finances that ultimately revealed that members of their jury - including the jury foreman - had been bribed. Magluta, Falcon, several of the jurors, their associates and even some of their lawyers were ultimately charged with various criminal offenses arising from the conduct. Magluta was eventually sentenced to 205 years in federal prison, while Falcon received only 20 years after striking a plea deal with the government. Magluta was initially transferred to the
Supermax federal prison facility in Florence, Colorado. In 2010, after Magluta's attorney, Paul Petruzzi, sued the Federal Government, Magluta was transferred out of ADX Florence. Federal agents involved in the case say there are few drug traffickers in history more successful or well-known than Magluta and Falcon. Magluta is currently seeking a new trial based on over 40 legal violations. He is presently represented by Paul Petruzzi and Richard Klugh.
Felix Mitchell Felix "The Cat" Mitchell was a well-known heroin kingpin and leader of the "69 Mob" in
Oakland, CA. At its height, his empire covered all of
California and extended into the
Midwest. His organization brought in an estimated $400,000 in monthly business. In 1985 Felix was convicted of running a continuing criminal enterprise and sentenced to life in prison in
USP Leavenworth, one of the most violent facilities in the country. Less than a year into his sentence, on August 21, 1986, Felix was stabbed to death in his cell, just days before his 32nd birthday. His funeral was a major spectacle in
Oakland. Over 10
Rolls-Royce limousines trailed the horse-drawn carriage that carried his body. Many celebrities and over 1,000 people attended the elaborate funeral, which received international media coverage.
Ross William Ulbricht Ross William Ulbricht was indicted under the Continuing Criminal Enterprise statute, along with other offenses, for running the
Silk Road online marketplace. On February 4, 2015, he was found guilty on all counts. On May 29, 2015, Ulbricht was sentenced to two life sentences plus 40 years without the possibility of parole. On January 21, 2025, Ulbricht was pardoned by President
Donald Trump.
Joaquin Guzman Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman was the leader of the
Sinaloa Cartel, a drug cartel known for shipping
cocaine,
methamphetamines,
marijuana, and
heroin throughout the US. He was charged with 27 separate violations and the jury decided that he was guilty of 25. Guzmán was imprisoned at
ADX Florence, a
supermax prison in
Colorado, after he was sentenced on July 17, 2019.
Aaron Shamo Aaron Shamo was a former Eagle Scout who became a
dark web drug kingpin based in Utah. His multi-million dollar drug trafficking ring distributed over half a million counterfeit pills around the country and was responsible for multiple overdose deaths. In August 2019, Shamo was convicted of running a continuing criminal enterprise and received a life sentence in October 2020. Shamo was the only one convicted under this statute, as his co-conspirators got various other convictions and sentences of up to 10 years in prison. On February 2nd, 2022,
American Greed released an episode titled "The Kingpin Next Door" which covers the story.
Rui-Siang Lin On May 20, 2024, a 23-year-old was arrested and indicted under the Continuing Criminal Enterprise Statute "Kingpin" provision for running an online drug marketplace, along with charges of narcotics conspiracy, money laundering, and conspiracy to sell misbranded medication. On December 16th, 2024, Lin reached a plea deal with prosecutors, pleading guilty to narcotics conspiracy, money laundering, and conspiracy to sell misbranded medication in exchange for the dismissal of the Continuing a Criminal Enterprise charge. Lin, facing 35 years to life in prison, was sentenced to 30 years on February 3, 2026. ==See also==