Executive Summary
- Eleven alleged members of the SMM-24K gang were indicted in the Middle District of Florida.
- Charges include RICO conspiracy, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and drug trafficking.
- Prosecutors allege the gang maintained a “hit list” and coordinated stabbings inside Florida prisons.
- The enterprise is accused of smuggling methamphetamine into state correctional facilities.
ORLANDO, Fla. — Federal authorities have indicted 11 alleged members and associates of the Sex Money Murder 24K (SMM-24K) gang on charges including racketeering conspiracy, attempted murder, and drug trafficking. The indictment, unsealed in the Middle District of Florida, accuses the defendants of operating a violent criminal enterprise that coordinated attacks and narcotics distribution both inside and outside the Florida Department of Corrections system.
According to the four-count indictment, SMM-24K operates as a subset of the nationally recognized Bloods gang. Prosecutors allege the organization enforced strict internal discipline through violence, including stabbings and attempted murders of its own members. Court documents state that gang leadership established a “hit list” detailing intended victims, their specific locations, and the grievances against them.
The filings detail several specific acts of violence attributed to the group. Prosecutors allege that on January 17, 2023, defendant Tyrone Conaway, 37, directed members at DeSoto Correctional Institution to kill a fellow member accused of theft and dishonesty; the targeted inmate was stabbed less than two weeks later. In another incident on February 23, 2023, Terry Tillman, 38, allegedly attempted to kill a member by stabbing him near the neck, with assistance from Charlie Martin, 28, who reportedly acted as a lookout.
Further allegations describe a coordinated effort to target rival gang members. Authorities state that in April 2023, Hernando Thompson, 40, and Alvin James, 30, utilized text messages to arrange a hit on a rival. The victim was subsequently slashed at Apalachee East Correctional Institution and, following a transfer to Liberty Correctional Institution, was reportedly stabbed again in May 2023.
In addition to violent acts, the indictment charges the group with operating a sophisticated drug trafficking network. Court documents allege that SMM-24K members leveraged outside associates to smuggle narcotics, including methamphetamine, into state prisons to generate revenue for the enterprise. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva noted that the gang “brutally enforced its purported rules” while facilitating the flow of dangerous drugs into correctional facilities.
Judicial and Systemic Impact
This indictment highlights the persistent operational challenges law enforcement faces regarding criminal enterprises that maintain command structures within the prison system. By employing the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, federal prosecutors are targeting the organizational hierarchy of the gang rather than treating the violent acts as isolated incidents. This legal strategy aims to dismantle the communication and command networks that allow incarcerated leaders to direct criminal activities, such as contract killings and contraband smuggling, across multiple institutions.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely a formal charge, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
