Nearly 20 alleged members of the Howard County Bloods gang were indicted Wednesday on federal racketeering charges after 25 search warrants were executed across the county, including in Elkridge, according to a statement released by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland.

Two of the alleged Bloods members and three additional people were also charged with conspiracy to distribute drugs. "The indictment unsealed today shows that no community is immune to gang and drug activity, but it also demonstrates our commitment to ridding our neighborhoods of this criminal element," Howard County Police Chief William J. McMahon said in a statement.

"That's why I have made our participation in this task force a priority and I am grateful to all our partners. Gang members who commit crimes should know that they will not be tolerated in Howard County or throughout Maryland." According to the indictment, members of the Howard County Bloods gang have been operating in Howard County since 2010. The gang sold drugs, broke into homes and commited other crimes. According to the indictment, a gang member's participation in criminal and violent acts "increased the respect accorded to that member," and could result in "promotion" within the gang's hierarchy.

Eighteen of the defendants were members of the Bloods, according to the indictment. The gang members and associates allegedly kept shared firearms, sold drugs and used the money from drug sales, burglaries, robberies and home invasions to finance gang activities. Each of the 18 people charged in the racketeering conspiracy faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and each of the five charged with conspiracy to distribute drugs faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

"I am confident that ATF's successful execution of more than 40 federal arrest and search warrants made a significant impact on violent crime in our Maryland communities," Special Agent in Charge Steven L. Gerido of the ATF - Baltimore Field Division, said in a statement. "ATF continues to work with its federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in order to bring violent criminals to justice."

Charged in the racketeering conspiracy:

Heather Carter, a/k/a "hunnilynn," age 29, of Columbia

Corey Conaway, a/k/a "KC," age 30, of Columbia

Michael Dominique Johnson, a/k/a "Ace", age 19, of Columbia

Christopher Lloyd McGann, age 21, of Columbia

David Jerome Robertson; age 22, of Columbia

Bamba Omar Saine, age 22, of Columbia

Giovanni Wright, a/k/a "G," age 20, of Elkridge

Ryan Gladden, a/k/a "Fats," age 25, of Baltimore

Anthony Preston, a/k/a "40," and "Tone," age 26, of Randallstown

Kyle Austin, a/k/a "Fowdy," age 21, of Baltimore

James Bieryla, a/k/a "Brea," and "Braze," age 21, of Ellicott City

Russell Canty, a/k/a "Rek," age 20, of Baltimore

Van Albert Carroll, Jr., a/k/a "Kool-Aid," age 19, of Ellicott City

Russell Chesson, a/k/a "Black," age 30, of Washington, D.C.

Adrian Freeman, a/k/a "Sleep," age 23, of Laurel

Kevin Jarrell, a/k/a "K-Dog," 24, of College Park

Faisal Lelo Mapangala, a/k/a "Pistol," age 21, of Jessup

Kenneth Ragan-Armstrong, a/k/a "Keezy," age 22, of Savage Three other defendants are charged in narcotics conspiracies: Anthony Louis Jones, age 26, of Columbia

Giovanni Wright, a/k/a "G," age 20, of Elkridge

Wendy Farhat, age 38, of Gaithersburg

Troy Fowler, age 23, of Laurel

Anthony Preston, a/k/a "40," and "Tone," age 26, of Randallstown Related: