Federal Indictments Target Minneapolis Gang Members

In Minneapolis, a federal grand jury has indicted 11 individuals associated with a street gang, with charges that include murder, conspiracy, and drug trafficking, as announced by prosecutors on Wednesday.

Court records reveal that several of the accused gang members participated in seven shootings that resulted in five fatalities. Specifically, five individuals face charges of firearm murder, while all 11 have been implicated in a conspiracy linked to the gang’s activities.

These new charges are part of a broader federal effort launched in 2023 to tackle gang-related crime in Minneapolis, which has already resulted in the indictment of over 90 individuals involved in various gangs, according to prosecutors.

The group implicated, known as the Lows gang, also faces serious allegations surrounding fentanyl trafficking and illegal firearms possession.

U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger emphasized the severity of the Lows gang, describing them as an extremely violent criminal organization that has inflicted terror on the residents of north Minneapolis for nearly two decades. “Through intimidation and violent acts—including shootings and murders—the Lows gang has attempted to exert control over large areas of our city,” he stated. Luger reiterated his office’s commitment to tackling gang violence through rigorous legal measures, highlighting this indictment as a significant move toward dismantling a gang that has caused extensive damage to families and communities in the area.

The approach taken by Luger’s office utilizes the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act to combat organized crime effectively. Traditionally, gang-related offenses in Minnesota were prosecuted on a case-by-case basis, but a strategy shift in recent years has focused on constructing comprehensive cases against the organizations themselves, rather than just individual members.

In a related development earlier this month, three more individuals were convicted under the RICO statute in connection with the ongoing federal initiative against gang activity. This shift in tactics illustrates a growing commitment to tackling the systemic issues posed by organized crime in the region.