Minnesota State Wire

Federal authorities in Minneapolis have charged three additional individuals alleged to be members or associates of the Lows, a street gang based in north Minneapolis. The latest defendants—Marques Armstrong Jr., 30, Davant Moore, 23, and Jahon Lynch, 20—appeared in court today on charges that include racketeering conspiracy involving murder, using firearms to kill during racketeering activity, attempted murder, and gun and drug trafficking offenses.

The indictment now includes fourteen defendants accused of participating in a criminal enterprise responsible for at least ten murders as part of its activities. Prosecutors allege the Lows have been active since around 2004 and have used violence, threats, and intimidation to maintain control over their territory and operations. The crimes described involve shootings at public places such as gas stations, barbershops, food trucks, and streets across Minneapolis.

“These fourteen defendants are allegedly all part of a gang that is responsible for at least 10 murders on the streets of Minneapolis,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These murders, which allegedly took place at a gas station, a barbershop, a food truck, and other public places, terrorized neighborhoods.  As this superseding indictment to net additional gang members shows, the Criminal Division will not relent in addressing violent crime.”

“The Lows are killing our neighbors, and we’re taking them down,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.  “RICO charges give us the power to dismantle the violent street gangs that fuel the violence and trap families in fear.  Every time we bring one of these cases, shootings drop, neighborhoods calm, and law-abiding families reclaim their streets.  This progress is only possible because of the relentless work of our law enforcement partners and the Department of Justice’s Violent Crime & Racketeering Section.  To every family that has lost someone to gang violence:  we will not stop until your streets are safe.”

“This violent street gang, the Lows, will not continue to wreak havoc in Minneapolis neighborhoods,” said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “Violent groups don’t belong in our communities. These charges demonstrate our overall strategy and relentless determination to eradicate the drug-fueled gang violence plaguing our community. The FBI and our partners will continue to aggressively pursue gangs wherever they surface and are steadfast in making sure our communities are a safe place for our citizens.”

“For nearly two decades, the Lows have menaced the north Minneapolis community through gun violence and murders,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “Together with our law enforcement partners, the FBI has fought tirelessly to end that reign of terror. This new indictment shows that the FBI will never stop working to crush violent gangs like the Lows, save lives, and protect our communities.”

“Through the relentless efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Minneapolis Police Department, and our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, this outcome represents another significant step in dismantling the gangs that have victimized our city—especially in the neighborhoods most impacted,” said Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara.  “For the individuals and families who have endured this violence, today’s result brings us closer to justice and accountability. We remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting every family and every community. The people of Minneapolis deserve a city that is safe and free from fear.”

“This criminal street gang treated gun violence and murder as business tools to maintain power and control,” said Jason Bushey, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Chicago Field Office. “IRS-CI special agents followed the money to expose how this enterprise was financed, uncovering the cash flow that allowed them to buy weapons, traffic drugs,and sow fear in Minneapolis neighborhoods.By tracing their illicit proceeds,we gave our law enforcement partners theevidence tonot only disrupt this conspiracy butto hold its leaders accountable fortheviolence they inflicted.This case showshow IRS-CI’s financial expertiseis critical todismantling organized crimeand protecting communitiesfromviolent threats.”

“Street gangs have been a persistent sourceofviolenceinMinneapolis,andtheallegationsinthisindictmentshowthetolltheycontinuetotakeonourcommunities,”saidATFSpecialAgentinChargeTravisRiddleoftheSt.PaulFieldDivision.“ATFhasbeencommittedtothiscityfordecades,andwewillcontinueworkingtokeepfirearmsoutofthehandsofthosewhoareprohibitedandtoholdaccountablethosewhouseviolencetothreatenthesafetyofourneighborhoods.”

“The line between drug traffickingandviolenceisnon-existentandtoday’sannouncementisanotherreminderofthisfact,”saidDrugEnforcementAdministrationOmahaDivisionActingSpecialAgentinChargeRafaelMattei.“AgentswiththeDEAremaincommittedtoourpartnersinlawenforcementtoensureourcommunitiesaresafeplacestolive.”

“Criminal organizations like th eLows pose asignificantthreattopublicsafety,endangeringourcommunitiesthroughmurder,narcoticstraffickingtoincludefentanyl ,gangviolence,andothercriminalactivities,”saidICEHSISt.PaulActingSpecialAgentinChargeSamuelWestbay.“Ouragentsremainsteadfastintheircommitmenttoworkingalongsideourlawenforcementpartnerstodismantlethesedangerouscriminalenterprisesandrestoresafetyandsecuritytoourneighborhoods.”

“The expansionofthisRICOcasetoincludethreemoredefendantssuspectedofthemostheinouscrimesunderscoresthestrengthofourongoingpartnershipatthelocal,state,andfederallevel,”saidHennepinCountySheriffDeWannaWitt.“Wearedismantlingthisviolentorganizationresponsibleforterrorizingourcommunitiesandtakingimportantstepstowardsjusticeforvictimsandthesafetyofourneighborhoods.GangviolencehasnoplaceinHennepinCountyandtheHennepinCountySheriff’sOfficewillcontinuetoworktoputthesecriminalorganizationsoutofbusiness.”

“Minnesotansdeservetolivewithoutthefearofgangviolenceattheirdoorstep—ofrivalryescalatingtobloodshed,”saidBureauofCriminalApprehensionSuperintendentDrewEvans.“It hastostop,andourresolvetomakethathappenhasneverbe enstronger.”

“StoppingviolentcriminalsthatmisusetheU.S.PostalServiceandposearisk tothegeneralpublicremainsthetoppriorityoftheU.S.PostalInspectionService,”saidPostalInspectorinChargeBryanMusgrove.“Today’ssupersedingindictmentsendsaclearmessage:Ifyou do harmtoourcommunities,wewillfindyouandbringyoutojustice.”

The superseding indictment details several fatal incidents linked by prosecutors totheLows,giving specific dates,victims,and locations.The events span from May2021throughFebruary2024withshootingsatgasstations,a barbershop,afoodtruck,andotherlocationsacrossMinneapolis.

If convicted,thedefendantsfacepenaltiesranginguptolifeimprisonment.AfederaldistrictcourtjudgewilldetermineanysentencebasedontheU.S.SentencingGuidelinesandotherstatutoryfactors.

Multiple agencies including ATF,FBI ,DEA ,IRS-CI ,HSI ,USPIS ,MinneapolisPoliceDepartment,HennepinCountySheriff'sOffice,MinnesotaBureauofCriminalApprehension,andMinnesotaDepartmentofCorrectionsareinvestigatingthecasewithassistancefromtheU.S.MarshalsService.AssistantU.S.AttorneysGarrettS.FieldsandDavidM.ClassenfortheDistrictofMinnesotaandTrialAttorneyJaredEngelkingoftheCriminalDivision'sViolentCrimeandRacketeeringSectionareprosecuting.

An indictment is an allegation.All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.