Life Sentence Imposed for Murderer in 21 Defendant Arlington, TX Street Gang Prosecution

The twenty-one members and associates of the violent Kiccdoe street gang that ravaged the streets of Arlington, Texas, have pled guilty to federal charges of racketeering (RICO conspiracy) or other drug and violent crimes in aid of racketeering charges , announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.

Yesterday, June 4, one of those defendants, Chauncey Ross, 22, of Arlington, Texas, was sentenced to life in federal prison by United States District Judge Mark T. Pittman for his role in the RICO conspiracy.

"I will not tolerate gang-related violence in our district, so rest assured that our gang-related prosecutions will continue," said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. "I am extremely proud of the work done by my prosecutors on this case, and I hope the citizens of Arlington feel safer knowing that these gang members are behind bars. Through his conduct, defendant Ross earned the life sentence he received, and I hope his sentence serves as a warning to all gang members in our community."

"This defendant's role in the commission of a murder and his involvement in a violent gang that terrorized the Arlington community warrants the life sentence imposed in this case," said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. "We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to dismantle violent criminal organizations that threaten the safety of our communities."

"This is a major win for our community," said Arlington Police Chief Al Jones. "In Arlington alone, we documented more than 180 criminal incidents, many of them violent in nature, involving the members of this street gang. I have no doubt that our city is safer with these defendants off our streets. I'm extremely grateful to the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas for their partnership on this case and for helping us achieve this outcome."

During the sentencing hearing, the government drew the court's attention to various aspects of evidence for its consideration in determining Ross's sentence. The government argued that Ross had shot and killed one young male and shot and injured another young female, while she was shielding her infant child with her body. And that shortly after committing the murder, Ross had recorded a rap song bragging about the incident-with lyrics that "fiending for murder . . . gave [him] an itch," among other graphic lyrics directly referencing the victim and the murder.

In addition to Ross, seven other defendants have been sentenced for their roles in the racketeering conspiracy (RICO conspiracy) or conduct stemming from their association with the Kiccdoe gang:

• Kyron Oates, 22, of Grand Prairie, Texas, pled guilty to a RICO conspiracy and was sentenced to 188 months imprisonment. During the sentencing hearing, the government highlighted evidence that showed that Oates was one of two shooters in a pre-meditated attempted murder occurring in February 2024.

• Cortez Atkinson, 19, of Fort Worth, Texas, pled guilty to a RICO conspiracy and was sentenced to 176 months imprisonment. During the sentencing hearing, the government drew the court's attention to evidence showing that Atkinson initiated a gang-related shootout directly outside of an apartment complex, during which a stray bullet struck a 13-year old girl while she was in her bedroom.

• KeyShawn Burton, 21, of Arlington, Texas, pled guilty to a RICO conspiracy and was sentenced to 127 months imprisonment. During the sentencing hearing, the government argued that Burton not only trafficked narcotics but also actively participated in online group chats with other Kiccdoe gang members to conspire to shoot and kill a member of a rival gang.

• Jaylen Jeshawn Franklin, 23, of Arlington, Texas, pled guilty to a RICO conspiracy and was sentenced to 122 months imprisonment. During the sentencing hearing, the government highlighted evidence that showed Franklin had conspired with other Kiccdoe gang members to commit at least two drive-by shootings - in January and November 2022, and he also posted in a Kiccdoe group chat an image of one of the houses to target for the shootings.

• Sir James Mack Williams, 22, of Arlington, Texas, pled guilty to a RICO conspiracy and was sentenced to 92 months imprisonment. During the sentencing hearing, the government emphasized evidence showing that Williams was a shooter during a November 2022 drive-by shooting spree of two separate houses in Arlington, Texas.

• Raphael Opare, 19, of Arlington, Texas, pled guilty to a RICO conspiracy and was sentenced to 41 months imprisonment. In addition to trafficking narcotics, R. Opare admitted in court documents that he, together with other Kiccdoe gang members, conspired to kill a member of a rival gang in retaliation for a shooting that had occurred in April 2024.

• JaMarion Manogin, 20, of Forney, Texas, pled guilty to two counts of Use of a Communication Facility in Causing or Facilitating the Commission of a Felony under the Controlled Substances Act and was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for engaging in drug trafficking while using a cellphone.

The remaining 13 defendants are scheduled to be sentenced in the coming weeks:

• June 12, 2026:
Bradley McArthur, Jr., 21, of Fort Worth, Texas, pled guilty to RICO conspiracy.
Vernell Woods, 19, of Arlington, Texas, pled guilty to RICO conspiracy.
• June 18, 2026:
LaMarion Austin, 21, of Dallas, Texas, pled guilty to RICO conspiracy.
Isaiah Wiley, 21, of Dallas, Texas, pled guilty to RICO conspiracy.
Joseph Hill, 18, of Fort Worth, Texas, pled guilty to RICO conspiracy.
Marcus Shaw, 20, of Arlington, Texas, pled guilty to RICO conspiracy.
• July 2, 2026:
Sadedrick Wilson, 22, of Fort Worth, Texas, pled guilty to RICO conspiracy.
Dillen Opare, 20, of Arlington, Texas, pled guilty to RICO conspiracy.
DaTraven Warren, 18, of Mansfield, Texas, pled guilty to RICO conspiracy.
DeMarco Westmoreland, 19, of Mansfield, Texas, pled guilty to RICO conspiracy.
• July 9, 2026:
Michael Mensah, 18, of Grand Prairie, Texas, pled guilty to RICO conspiracy.
• September 10, 2026:
Jakayla Totten, 21, of DeSoto, Texas, pled guilty to one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering.
• September 17, 2026:
Blake Aaron Scott, 22, of Arlington, Texas, pled guilty to RICO conspiracy.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Arlington Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura G. Montes and Eric B. Chen prosecuted the case with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Capoccia.