Twenty-one individuals alleged to be members of a street gang in Arlington, Texas, have been charged with federal crimes including racketeering, murder, assault, drug trafficking, and firearms offenses. The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson.
The charges stem from an investigation that began in April 2024 after a Kiccdoe gang member was killed at an Arlington high school. This incident reportedly led to a series of retaliatory shootings involving the Kiccdoe gang and other groups in Arlington. According to court records, the Kiccdoe gang is accused of engaging in violent acts such as murder, drive-by shootings, robberies, assaults with dangerous weapons, and trafficking fentanyl and marijuana throughout Arlington and nearby cities over a period beginning in early 2022.
The Kiccdoe gang is said to have originated from the 600 block of East Arkansas Lane on Arlington’s east side. Members reportedly identified themselves using terms like “kiccdoe,” “KDN,” “6,” or “600” on social media platforms and through clothing and music videos that referenced their activities.
Court documents allege that violent acts referred to as “stripes” were required for membership and maintaining status within the gang. Specific crimes listed include one murder, six attempted murders, nine robberies, multiple assaults with dangerous weapons, ongoing narcotics sales, and continued threats of violence intended to protect profits and territory.
Those charged include residents from Arlington as well as neighboring cities such as Grand Prairie, Dallas, Fort Worth, Mansfield, Forney, and DeSoto. The list includes Michael Mensah (18), Raphael Opare (19), Dillen Opare (20), Isaiah Wiley (21), Kyron Oates (22), Vernell Woods (19), DeMarco Westmoreland (19), Cortez Atkinson (18), Bradley McArthur Jr. (21), DaTraven Warren (18), Sadedrick Wilson (22), Joseph Hill (18), Chauncey Ross (22), Marcus Shaw (20), KeyShawn Burton (20), LaMarion Austin (21), Blake Aaron Scott (22), Sir James Mack Williams (21), Jaylen Jeshawn Franklin (22), JaMarion Manogin (20) and Jakayla Totten (21). Charges range from racketeering conspiracy to conspiracy to commit murder or distribute controlled substances.
Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy Larson stated: “The outstanding, collaborative work of our law enforcement partners has made Arlington residents safer today, because 21 alleged violent gang members and associates have been arrested and taken off the streets. 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.”
FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock added: “The FBI is committed to working with our state and local law enforcement partners on the Tarrant County Safe Streets Task Force to protect our communities. 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. These arrests demonstrate the importance of partnerships in combatting the violence that plagues our communities.”
Chief Al Jones of the Arlington Police Department commented: “The members of this gang have been involved in numerous violent offenses in our community including shootings aggravated assaults robberies and more… By getting these individuals off our streets we are making Arlington safer… I’m also incredibly grateful to our federal partners for helping us combat violent crime in our city.”
A criminal complaint is not evidence; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
If convicted on these charges under federal law defendants could face maximum sentences ranging from ten years up to life imprisonment.
The case resulted from joint efforts by multiple agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office; Arlington Police Department; U.S. Marshals Service; Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms & Explosives; police departments from Fort Worth Garland North Richland Hills Carrollton Farmers Branch Coppell Hurst Euless Bedford Grapevine; Texas Department of Public Safety; NORTEX Metro SWAT; North Tarrant Regionals SWAT; among others.
Assistant United States Attorney Justin Beck is prosecuting this case.
This investigation falls under Operation Take Back America—a national initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration cartels transnational criminal organizations—and reducing violent crime by coordinating resources across various Department of Justice programs such as OCDETFs and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
