By Gangsters Inc. Editors

The Chief of Security of the Gangster Disciples for the State of Tennessee was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison on Monday. 36-year-old Demarcus “Trip” Deon Crawford (photo above) had admitted to his involvement in the shooting of rival gangsters, drug trafficking, and other crimes.

Crawford was busted alongside his boss Byron Montrail Purdy - who, as Governor, ran all the Gangster Disciples’ activities in the State of Tennessee - and 14 others in a large-scale RICO conspiracy case titled “Operation .38 Special” in May of 2016.

Enforcer

As Chief of Security, Crawford was responsible for enforcing the gang’s rules. During a plea hearing on June 7, 2019, he admitted that he ordered the shooting of rival gang members for retaliation and to maintain his position within the Gangster Disciples, and that he participated directly and indirectly in the activities of the gang, including acts of attempted murder and narcotics trafficking.

READ: The Governor of Tennessee: Gangster Disciples boss Byron Montrail Purdy ruled state’s underworld

Prosecutors said that the Gangster Disciples is a highly-organized national gang active in more than 35 states, involved in numerous criminal activities and that it protects its power through threats, intimidation, and violence, including murder, attempted murder, assault, and obstruction of justice. The Gangster Disciples promotes its enterprise through member-only activities and provides support to members charged with or incarcerated for gang-related offenses.

Organization of the Gangster Disciples

The Gangster Disciples were organized into different positions, including board members, and governor-of-governors who each controlled geographic regions; governors, assistant governors, chief enforcers and chief of security for each state or regions within the state where the Gangster Disciples were active; and coordinators and leaders within each local group.

The State of Tennessee was divided into specific area codes that defined the separate divisions or "sets" of the Gangster Disciples. The Knoxville set was known by its area code "865," Chattanooga by its area code "423," Nashville by its area code "615," Columbia by its area code "931," Jackson by its area code "731," and Memphis by its area code "901." Crawford was the Gangster Disciples’ "Chief Enforcer" for the State of Tennessee, meaning he was responsible for Gangster Disciple criminal activity in all of those regions.

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