3 gang members convicted of murder, kidnapping, drug crimes

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - Three people associated with the “Fully Blooded Felons gang” were convicted of numerous crimes on Thursday, the Department of Justice announced.

After a three-week trial, the Department of Justice said a federal jury in Cleveland convicted Raven Mullins, 37, Malik Brooks, 28, and Jayon Florence, 23, of crimes including Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act murder, RICO conspiracy, RICO kidnapping, drug trafficking and gun crimes.

The defendants face a maximum sentence of life in prison; a sentencing date has yet to be scheduled.

“These verdicts send a clear message: when gang members make it their business to hurt people and terrorize our communities, we make it our business to lock them in a cage far from home,” U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio said. “FBI Cleveland and our local law enforcement partners conducted an outstanding investigation to take down this hostile gang. We hope today’s verdict brings the victims’ families a small sense of closure in knowing that justice has been served.”

According to the Department of Justice, Mullins, Brooks and Florence kidnapped and killed a victim after the gang suspected she was romantically involved with a rival gang member and sharing information with them. Also involved were co-defendants who earlier pleaded guilty.

On July 28, 2022, gang members held the woman captive in an apartment, where Mullins ordered them, including Brooks and Florence, to repeatedly punch and choke her. The Department of Justice said Mullins oversaw the governing body of the Fully Blooded Felons.

The woman was held captive while members of the gang discussed what to do with her.

After taking the woman’s phone and reviewing her messages and contacts, gang members believed she intended to provide information to a rival gang that would lead to Brooks’ assault or death, the Department of Justice said.

The next day, Brooks, Florence and other gang members drove her to Cleveland’s West Side, where they shot her 19 times, killing her. They left her body in the front seat of a stolen Kia Optima, the Department of Justice said.

Another victim, a 22-year-old woman, was kidnapped and assaulted after she had previously given a statement to police, saying a Fully Blooded Felon member was involved in a robbery, the Department of Justice said.

After being held captive from June 30, 2022, to July 5, 2022, the 22-year-old woman was released.

On Sept. 12, 2023, Mullins and two other gang members robbed and killed another victim on the West Side of Cleveland. The Department of Justice said a knife sheath carrying Mullins’ DNA was found at the scene.

During the trial, the prosecution introduced evidence showing that on July 18 and 20, 2022, Brooks shot two rival gang members, the Department of Justice said.

Evidence also showed that Fully Blooded Felon members used two different “stash houses” at a local apartment complex, and during the execution of two search warrants, law enforcement recovered more than 300 grams of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine, as well as seven firearms, the Department of Justice said.

As of Thursday, 25 Fully Blooded Felon members have been charged and convicted of federal charges relating to crimes including RICO conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, kidnapping in aid of racketeering and various firearms and drug-related offenses. The Department of Justice said the case is the result of a years-long investigation conducted by numerous local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.

“The Fully Blooded Felons criminal network has been identified as Cleveland’s most significant gang threat,” Special Agent in Charge Joshua DelManzo of FBI Cleveland said. “Thanks to the tireless work and years-long commitment of the FBI Safe Streets Gang Task Force and our local, state, and federal partners, their reign of terror is over and justice will be served. Our work is not done. We will not waver in our mission nor lose sight of our promise to identify, investigate, disrupt, and dismantle gangs not only in the larger cities across America, but also right here in northern Ohio.”